UPND candidate in the Lubansenshi parliamentary by-election Patrick Mucheleka has gone into hiding.
Mr Mucheleka is being sought by Police for allegedly inciting UPND cadres who beat up newly appointed Luwingu district Commissioner Patrick Chanda for allegedly mobilizing voters for the ruling party candidate George Mwamba.
He has told QFM News in a telephone interview from his hideout that he is awaiting instructions from his lawyers before he can avail himself to the police.
Mr. Mucheleka has denied inciting UPND cadres to beat up the newly appointed Luwingu district commissioner.
He says what the PF through the Police are doing is trying to intimidate the opposition after realizing that they do not have the support of the people of Lubansenshi.
Mr. Mucheleka states that the ruling is aware that they have a terrible candidate who has been rejected by the people as the people are overwhelmingly supporting him and the UPND.
And FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenze says reports from FODEP monitors in Lubansenshi indicate that Police last night raided and tear-gassed Luena Parish in Lubansenshi in search of Mr Mucheleka.
Mr Chipenzi says five suspected UPND cadres and one person found in possession of eight voters’ cards have been arrested by the police leaving the District Commissioner scot-free.
He says it will be unfair and unprofessional on the part of the police to leave the District Commissioner who caused the electoral mayhem in Lubansenshi and only pursue those who tried to remind the DC to respect his role as a civil servant and also adhere to the Presidential directive.
Mr Chipenzi adds that Police should also restrain themselves from raiding places of worship as it is against international practice to raid such places which are considered sacred.
He furthers states that Police should immediately stop pursuing Mr. Mucheleka who is candidate in this by-election before they are blamed for aiding other candidates to rob him of electoral victory.
Mr Chipenzi says FODEP calls on the Police to instead arrest the District Commissioner who engaged in active political campaigns disregarding the Presidential and Vice-Presidential direction instructing civil servants including DCs not to engage in partisan politics.
He states that FODEP condemns the use of District Commissioners and police to win bye-elections as witnessed in Livingstone, Mulobezi, Mangango and now Lubansenshi as it denigrate the principles of a fair playing field in the electoral process.
Chiwamina Galu.
Unfortunately for PF. the clock is ticking and very soon the police will fall under the control of the people they are harassing.
If he is innocent why go into hiding. These are the tricks of upndown. Whenever they are involved expect confusion.
PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7TH SEPTEMBER, 2015
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) is in receipt of an unpleasant electoral report in Lubansenshi Constituency in Luwingu District of Northern Province where a newly appointed Luwingu District Commission engaged himself in electoral campaigns for the ruling party candidate Mr. George Mwamba.
This incensed suspected UPND cadres who descended on and assaulted him and FODEP is being informed that the DC, who was rushed to Kasama for treatment, was spotted mobilizing voters for the ruling party candidate.
Reports from FODEP monitors in Lubansenshi indicate that police last night raided and tear-gased Luena Parish in Lubansenshi in search of UPND candidate, Mr. Patrick Mucheleka who is currently in hiding and being sought by…
Read what 4R’s Eric Chanda is saying in the post. He has reached a Zero option situation. Stella Libongani, be careful, your actions might just be adding fuel to that.
The bembas say, “if pressured even akanyelele kala suma”.
the police in the area, on suspicion that he incited his cadres to beat the DC. Five suspected UPND cadres and one person for being in possession of eight voters’ cards have been arrested by the police leaving the DC scot-free.
It will be unfair and unprofessional on the part of the police to leave the DC who caused the electoral mayhem in Lubansenshi and only pursue those who tried to remind the DC to respect his role as a civil servant and also adhere to the Presidential direction.
Police should also restrain themselves from raiding places of worship as it is against international practice to raid such places which are considered sacred. In addition, Police should immediately stop pursuing Mr. Mucheleka who is candidate in this by-election before they are blamed for aiding other…
other candidates to rob him of electoral victory.
Further, FODEP calls on the Police to also arrest the DC who was engaged in active political campaigns disregarding the Presidential and Vice-Presidential direction instructing civil servants including DCs not to engage in partisan politics.
In as much as police are required in an election area to provide security, law and order, FODEP is concerned that a huge number of them could instill fear on the electorate and intimidate their full participation in the electoral process, a situation which is currently obtaining in Lubansenshi
FODEP also demands that political parties occupying school premises should vacate the premises to pave way for the re-opening of schools so that they don’t inconvenience the teaching and learning process at those schools.
FODEP calls on all concerned parties to exercise restraint and respect the provision of Electoral Code of Conduct as campaigns heats up both in Solwezi West and Lubansenshi ahead of September 24, 2015, if the two bye-elections were to remain calm, peaceful, free and fair.
FODEP would like to condemn the use of DCs and police to win bye-elections as witnessed in Livingstone, Mulobezi, Mangango and now Lubansenshi as it denigrate the principles of a fair playing field in the electoral process.FODEP will continue to update the nation as it receives reports from the constituencies where by-elections are taking place.
Kasama bye-election will be more violent than this because you have two thug parties with two thug candidates facing each other i.e. PF/Kevin Sampa V UPND/GBM.