PRESIDENT Lungu has called on the police to ensure the security of every Zambian is guaranteed.
President Lungu said this in reaction to Friday’s incident in Monze where Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Frank Bwalya (left) was assaulted by suspected United Party for Nationa Development (UPND) cadres when he went for an interview at Sky FM.
President Lungu said he has confidence that the police will handle the matter and that culprits will be brought to book.
“People should know that it’s not about fist-fighting like what happened to Frank Bwalya, no. I hoped the police will stop at nothing to arrest the culprits. That is very important.
“Who beat up Mr Bwalya? It’s UPND cadres, the same people who are appearing in court for the same offence for beating Moonga and the others the other time. Anyway, the police are there and I think they will do their best,” he said.
The President was speaking in Lusaka upon arrival from Mozambique, where he had travelled on a three-day State visit.
On Friday, Mr Bwalya was assaulted by suspected UPND cadres at Sky FM, where he had gone to give an interview following an invitation by the radio station.
Police have opened dockets in the matter where Mr Bwalya was beaten by suspected UPND cadres in Monze on Friday.
And police spokesperson Charity Munganga Chanda said dockets have been opened for the three UNPD cadres who beat up Mr Bwalya.
Mrs Chanda identified the three as Kelvin Conhill, Lawrence Mbewe and Ackson Miyoba. She said two of the suspects, Conhill and Mbewe, are currently on bail for similar offences.
“The incident happened at Sky FM on Friday around 16:00 hours when the suspects went into the newsroom, where the interview was being conducted. There was an exchange of words before he was beaten,” Mrs Chanda said.
She said police have launched a manhunt for the suspects, who are on the run.
University Teaching Hospital (UTH) spokesperson Mwenya Mulenga confirmed treating Mr Bwalya, who has since been discharged.
And two civil society organisations have condemned attacks on Mr Bwalya.
Speaking in separate interviews in Lusaka yesterday, Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) director Leonard Chiti said his organisation is disappointed that intensified calls to end political violence are going unheeded.
“We have heard in recent times political leaders, including our own President [Lungu], calling for peaceful co-existence amongst people and particularly between members of various political parties, but it seems no-one is paying attention to these calls; even diplomats now are worried about this violence in the country,” he said.
Fr Chiti is of the view that political party leaders have the ability to discipline their cadres.
Fr Chiti has, however, commended President Lungu for his continued calls for peaceful campaigns ahead of the August 11 polls.
“The President has also called on police to be firm and impartial on acts of violence regardless of which political party the perpetrators belong to.
Interestingly, attacks on Mr Bwalya happened the same day one of the local papers on Friday quoted UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema calling for his members to desist involving themselves in acts of violence,” he said.
He said the clergy sympathises with Mr Bwalya and urged him to continue preaching peace as advised by the Word of God.
Press Association of Zambia (PAZA) executive secretary Patson Phiri has urged the UPND leadership to demonstrate highest levels of responsibility and maturity by identifying the suspects and handing them to police.
“We condemn in the strongest terms possible attacks on Mr Bwalya by suspected UPND cadres in Monze on Friday. What happened in Monze is contrary to UPND leadership claims that they detest politics of violence,” Mr Phiri said.
He said Mr Bwalya, as a citizen of Zambia, has every right to enjoy his freedom of expression irrespective of the location.
Mr Phiri said any citizen of Zambia regardless of their status must not be afraid of going to any radio station to express themselves freely.
He said PAZA believes that politics is a civilised contest which must be won on the basis of ideas as opposed to physical confrontation.
Uko he has finally spoken, youth day pf attacks and stripping naked of a young lady, he was quite as a mouse, and the paza fellow patson phiri has found his voice as well, anyone from pf or NGOs to talk about the pf kanyama attack on upnd members?
Interesting how there is reaction from the High office when one of theirs is scratched, but nothing when an opposition member is cut by a panga.
I can confidently say that Chagwa Lungu is really NOT presidential material. Lets get rid of this morron before Zambia turns into another Syria.
It is seems no one is respecting whatever Edgar says.
It was wrong to beat up a priest, even if he has insulted Zambians.
What a spineless wimp of a president. He makes me want to puke. For intents and purposes this man is not a leader period.
And this is our Head of State promoting unity really laughable even him directing the police is what is wrong with this country; Governance!!
Can three people beat someone with no physical evidence? No swollen eye, no broken nose, no sliced forehead or oozing blood from the head! How come no one took a picture even passerbys? If truly he was beaten, then the beaters did a bad job.
Comment: upnd is too violent together with their leaders gbm and hh. Thus how it happens when u are desperate to something.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. In other words, what goes around comes around.
Stupid pf pigs commenting. Here in copperbelt we are attacked daily and it is normal to you dogs. Even the scrap police help these thugs in mobilising acts of violence. Why was this dog bwalya open a docket in monze and get treated where the incident took place? This is year of change.
Rubbsh president
Not even a real President. A fraud. Fake.
Just a sorry drunken bum excuse of a president!
How can Zambians tolerate such rubbish??
Is that really the best you can do? This clown has made Zambia a joke!
YOU ARE THE RUBBISH ONE! can’t you write more.
Edgar Lungu is great, he has only been in office a very short time, he is working hard and does not deserve snide remarks like yours. All you haters of EL – HE IS WINNING 2016, HE IS UNSTOPPABLE, START WIPING YOUR TEARS NOW
I have always said that there has never been a violent opposition party like upnd in the history of this country. These chaps are even clever when defending their violence like criminals. Actually they mean to kill all the time-mufumbwe and mapatizya sagas! Its only upnd that has created that history in opposition, these chaps are violent even when contributing to radio stations programs someone would think zambia is at war coz the chaps they are highly charged to kill and speaks like poisoned witches denying to die! These chaps shouldn’t be allowed anywhere in the corridles of power, zambia can go in flames! They are crap!
@ Suntwe Hamwaba
Only real smelly hip of crap its you.
Suspected UPND cadres ? How do you know the suspects are Upnd ? Not PF or FDD
Dear president may your soul rest in peace on 11.8
Hopefully sooner!
First of all, it’s good that Bwalya is no longer addressed as father but Mr not even by his former church.
Secondly can someone show us a picture of assaulted Bwalya failure to which this will be construed as a lie. Bwalya was only missed by a slap and he fell to the ground panting with eyes rolling in his head’s sockets.
In short, he was not beaten at all. Knowing Bwalya he would have run to the nearest camera for a photo. Mwamwishiba shani?
Youth day attacks on upnd no comments yet, y? Kalu has been taught a lesson, jt saying
Your Excellence we need leadership from you on curbing political violence and not this selective condemnation of violence. Yes, selective condemnation of political violence is ok for a leader of a political party out of expediency BUT you are a father of the nation who has sworn to protect life of every citizen regardless of political affiliation. Don’t be quick to condemn violence allegedly perpetrated by the opposition and mute on violence by your cadres.
Continued: By being mute in condemning violence perpetrated by your cadres, you are creating an impression that you are benefiting from the violence perpetrated by your cadres and you want to score political points by selectively condemning violence perpetrated by the opposition. We want leadership from you before the situation escalates into chaos.
Can somebody please tell Chagwa that he is not an ostrich?
This man makes me puke,serious.UPND members are hacked everyday yet he is quiet.Frank Bwalya is slapped by unknown *****s and its a national tragedy..please August 11 come quick.
SINKAMBA WISDOM – Mr. president ECL why are you silent on what happened on youth day when you UPND cadres were attacked by pf cadres and your own citizen stripped naked by your pf cadres, your pf Zambia police were enjoying the assort. No comment either from your vice president inonge wina. What kind of leadership is this? All citizens need your protection. As Zambian citizens we demand your open condemnation of what happened on youth day , pf cadres and police are there to seen on videos, why are you quite on that incident?
JUST A REMINDER TO UP AND DOWN MEMBERS THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YO UNDER 5 PARTY AND THE MIGHTY PF PARTY IS YO PARTY JUST HAVE A LEADER AND THE LATER HAS THE PRESIDENT NOT ONLY OF THE MIGHTY PARTY BUT ZAMBIAN PRESIDENT. ITS TIME YOU RESPECTED YOUR PRESIDENT.
YOU SHOULD GROW UP
Where was sky fm security and personnel when their was bring beaten in their studio? Why didnt they apprehended the suspects? Why did Frank travel all the way from Monze to UTH for medical attention? Why is sky fm still mute?
they didn’t beat him enough..the man is so provocative..he has to talk like a priest..
Zambians i think we are bigger than the political parties we support. If we used this social media platform to educate,debate and be objective on the topic we are on -about we shall be ambassadors of modern change. Lets debate intellectually on issues. Am putting this to you all on this space. If you are assorted in a radio station why not take the following steps:
1 Report to the radio station security and management so that they take pictures and report to the nearest police station?
2. Sue the radio station for not providing adequate security for their guests ?
How do you travel back 200 km to seek medical attention?
What do you think my friends?
MY COMMENT IS TO FR. LEONARD CHITI: I AM EXTREMELY DISAPOINTED WITH YOUR REACTION ON THE ALLEGED ATTACK ON FRANK BWALYA. ON YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONS, IN FULL VIEW OF THE REPUBLICAN VICE-PRESIDENT,THE POLICE AND PF TOP OFFICIALS UPND YOUTH WERE ATTACKED AND INJURED BY PF CADRES AND A WOMAN WAS STRIPPED NAKED, YOU NEVER SAID ANYTHING. YOUR FRANK BWALYA CAME OUT IN FULL DEFENCE AND SUPPORT OF HIS CADRES. PRESIDENT LUNGU REMAINED CONSPECUOUSLY MUTE ON THE TRAGIC INCIDENCE. A FEW DAYS AGO, UPND SUPPORTERS WERE HACKED WITH PANGAS IN KANYAMA, YOU NEVER SAID ANYTHING. BUT ON THE FAKED ATTACK OF FRANK BWALYA, YOU HAVE COME OUT STRONGLY AGAINST THE UPND EVEN WHEN YOU HAVE NO CONCRETE PROOF THAT INDEED THE ATTACK WAS GENUINE AND COMMITTED BY UPND CADRES. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED AT YOUR DOUBLE STANDARDS…
Fr CHITI,dont let us start comparing the Catholics to PF? Iam very disapointed! Bishops dont sit quietly abapatili baletusha icisumino.He has only talked about Bwalya’s attack
NONSENSE! ABSOLUTE CRAP!!!!! HOW MANY INNOCENT PEOPLE CADRES OR NOT HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED BY PF CADRES AND STATE POLICE? HOW MANY???? F THAT! THESE ARE THE FINAL KICKS OF A DYING HORSE, WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND COULD HAVE ASSAULTED THAT NONENTITY? KICK PF AND LUNGU OUT OF POWER AND LET NORMALCY RETURN TO THE LAND OF PEACE.
PRESIDENT LUNGU HAS OBVIOUSLY PROOVED THAT HE IS NOT FIT TO BE REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT. A REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE RIGHTS AND ENSURE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF EACH AND EVERY CITIZEN IN THE COUNTRY. IT IS HIS CONSTITUTIONAL, LEGAL AND MORAL DUTY TO DEFEND AND PROTECT HUMAN RIGHTS OF EACH AND EVERY ZAMBIAN REGARDLESS OF THEIR SOCIAL STATUS, POLITICAL OR RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION. UNFORTUNATELY AND TRAGICALLY FOR ZAMBIA, PRESIDENT LUNGU HAS LAMENTABLY FAILED TO LIVE UP TO THE REQUIREMENT OF HIS OFFICE. THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA WILL DO THEMSELVES A GREAT SERVICE TO VOTE OUT MR. LUNGU ON 11TH AUGUST, 2016. THEY WILL HAVE THEMSELVES TO BLAME IF THEY FAIL TO DO SO.
APPARENTLY FR. LEONARD CHITI HAS COME OUT IN ULL SUPPORT OF FRANK BWALYA BECAUSE OF COMMON TRIBE AND COMMON CHURCH AFFILIATION? IS NOT THE SAME FRANK BWALYA WHO SUPPORTED THE THREATS AGAINST THE RADIO MANO JOURNALISTS? IS IT NOT THE SAME FRANK BWALYA WHO SUPPORTED AND THE DEFENDED THE CRIMINAL AND UNRULY BEHAVIOUR OF PF CADRES AT THE NDOLA AIRPORT TO PREVENT THE PLANE IN WHICH MILES SAPMA WAS FROM LANDING? PLEASE, FR. CHITI SPARE US THE AGONY WITH YOUR SUPPORT FOR YOUR CRIMINAL BWALYA.
Mr President, comment on events of 12th March, 2016 (Youth Day) where a UPND young lady and others we4e attacked by your cadres including senior cadte KAMBA!
I don’t understand is this the president of Zambia or the president of PF Cadres only. A young woman is stripped naked by his cadres he is deathly silent but a crazy former priest is attacked and all of a sudden he is concerned. Mr president you are president for everyone when will you learn this.
He who kills with a knife will die the knife, he who kills with the gun will die by the gun. Though ba Fr
is faking but it’s a reminder that if u push innocent people too far, one day they will retariate in the equal and opposite measures of force you apply. Let us fight poverty, hunger, joblessness, me a lot shortages, loadsheding, economic crisis etc and not misdirecting our little energy against eachother after all we are more than these political parties and politicians.
I AM NOT SURE ABOUT THAT FROM HIS E PRESIDENT. BECAUSE ON THE YOUTH DAY WE YOU SAW BLOODS AND STRIPPING OF A WOMAN AND NO WORDS FROM HIS E THE PRESIDENT OF ZAMBIA WHY AND WHY?HOW SPEACIA ONE F BWALYA OUT OF THOSE WHO WERE TAKEN TO UTH WITH BLOOD COMING ON THERE BODIES???.POLICE OFFICERS BROKE A LEG OF ONE UPND SUPORTERS AND NO VOICE CAME FROM THE HIGH OFFICERS OR LEADERS.LETS BE VERY CAREFUL BECAUSE THIS ZAMBIA YOU HAVE AND PEACE SOME OTHER COUNTRIES DONT HAVE IT.UPND OR PF WHO BREAK THE LAW TREAT THEM THE SAME.GOD IS WATCHING WHATEVER WE DO OR SAY DAY OF JUDGMENT IS COMING.HAVE A BLESSD DAY AND GOD BLESS ZAMBIA. AND AFRICA.
Lungu is not fit to be a Republican President. He is behaving like an opposition leader. Surely why keep quiet about what happened on Youth Day?
The bum has no leadership qualities whatsoever its no wonder the old man Sata handpicked him to be in charge as he would have easily muscled him out on his return from treatment.
Tayali (2016) HH BLESSES VIOLENCE – IT IS LIKE HEROISM
As a Christian, one does not look at justifying oneself of wrongdoing especially violence. HH never takes responsibility of the violence perpetrated by his cadres, rather he justifies evil act by accusing others especially PF.
I am not justifying the violence of PF, they are equally guilty and they should take responsibility as well.
However, HH treats the perpetrators of violence in his party as heroes and heroines. And those poor citizens who get beaten by his cadres are like infidels who deserve the wrath of violence for not supporting him. I am a victim of HH’s cadres’ violence and justified it.
For those among his cadres who get hurt in the battle or arrested, HH treats them like martyrs.
Which cadres can one find in monze?
inconsistence…..first report was that he was attacked outside as he was approaching his 4×4…now we are told that it happened in the studio….ECL should have come out the same when Kabimba was attacked in Eastern province….when there was fracas at radio Mano….FB looks a comedian to me….exaggerating an incident just to attract attention…we used to do that when we were kids….how did he end up there all by himself….tho any Zambian is free to go anywhere within the borders alone or otherwise…its just imperative that you go accompanied to places you suspect to be volatile to your presence ….
Is this the picture of catholics?
Are these PF people normal? In Bweengwa, government personnel who were in the president’s entourage were abducted and vehicles smashed. No pictures produced. In Monze, a Frank Bwalya is beaten by 3 people. He decides to go to UTH for treatment instead of Monze Hospital. Again no pictures. In both incidents, the head of state comes down breathing fire. Why are they camera shy?