United Party for National Development – UPND National Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has urged the Police to go flat out and arrest all the people who attacked and damaged Flash mini buses in Lusaka.
And Mr Mweetwa has distanced the UPND from the attacks saying that some unscrupulous people want to use the name of the ruling party to do wrong things.
“The ruling party has been informed by security wings that the perpetrators of the violent attacks are not members of the party but call boys found along Freedom Way in the Central Business District – CBD,” he said
Mr Mweetwa added that those using the Party’s name to cause trouble and break the law must be made to account for their actions regardless of their political affiliation as directed by President Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr Mweetwa’s remarks come in the wake of attacks on flash buses by people alleged to be UPND cadres.
Police have since picked up the alleged Mastermind behind the said attacks on the flash bus drivers.
On 19th December, 2022, suspected United Party for National Development – UPND cadres armed with machetes attacked some bus drivers in Lusaka who operate under Capital Bus Services the buses which are commonly known as flash buses, as there buses where smashed with machetes by the suspected UPND cadres, the attack happened when the drivers were holding a peaceful protest against cadres who they accused of demanding a 40 Kwacha fee every time a bus loads.
And during the attack, a number of drivers were injured, as some were quickly taken to the hospital, while others were reported to be detained at Lusaka Central Police.
On 20th December, 2022 a suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) member only identified as Abram Mambwe aged 27 years of unknown house number in George Township was apprehended for the offence of Malicious Damage to Property.
Abram Mambwe was arrested in connection with the alleged attack on Minibus drivers belonging to Capital Bus Services (Flash buses) that happened in Lusaka on December 19th, 2022 by a group of youths suspected to belong to the ruling UPND.
Police Deputy Spokesperson Danny Mwale disclosed that three reports of malicious damage to property involving three motor vehicles which occurred between 11:00 hours and 13:00 hours along the Great North Road opposite Cavendish University and near Heroes Stadium in Lusaka were recorded.
“In the first incident which occurred around 11:00 hours near Heroes Stadium, it is alleged that unknown persons attacked the driver of Capital Bus Services identified as Gerald Mwenya aged 27 of Chazanga compound whose motor vehicle registration number ALF 5196 was damaged leaving the windscreen and left window damaged all valued at K8,000,” Mr Mwale noted
He further noted that the second incident occurred around 12:30 hours opposite Cavendish University along the Great North Road. It is alleged that unknown persons damaged a Ford transit bus registration number BAJ 7794 driven by Evaristo Tinango aged 41 of six miles in Lusaka. The bus had its windscreen and side windows shattered, all valued at K6,000,” Mr Mwale said.
He added that the other incident occurred near Heroes Stadium involving a minibus registration number BAB 1759 driven by Jacob Shawa aged 36 of Kabanana compound had its left rear window damaged valued at K3,500.
Mr Mwale said that police investigations indicate that about 30 unknown persons were seen walking from town along the Great North Road and once they came across a Flash bus, they picked stones and hit the bus.
He said that Police officers quickly moved in and order was restored.
“Investigations have been instituted and a manhunt for the other suspects has been launched,” Mr Mwale said
Meanwhilem Police in Lusaka have apprehended a suspect identified as Abram Mambwe aged 27 of unknown house number in George compound for the offence of malicious damage to property.
Zambia Police Service Deputy Police Public Relations Officer Danny Mwale has confirmed the development in Lusaka on Tuesday.
Mr. Mwale said Mambwe has been arrested in connection with the alleged attack on Minibus drivers belonging to Capital Bus Services (Flash buses) in Lusaka on Monday.
“ Police recorded three reports of malicious damage to property involving three motor vehicles which occurred between 11:00 hours and 13:00 hours yesterday along the Great North Road opposite Cavendish University and near Heroes Stadium in Lusaka, “ said Mr. Mwale.
In the first incident which occurred around 11:00 hours near Heroes Stadium, it is alleged that unknown persons attacked the driver of Capital Bus Services identified as Gerald Mwenya aged 27 of Chazanga compound whose motor vehicle registration number ALF 5196 was damaged leaving the windscreen and left window damaged all valued at K8,000.
In the second incident occurred around 12:30 hours opposite Cavendish University along the Great North Road.
It is alleged that unknown persons damaged a Ford transit bus registration number BAJ 7794 driven by Evaristo Tinango aged 41 of six miles in Lusaka.
The bus had its windscreen and side windows shattered all valued at K6,000.
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer added that the other incident occurred near Heroes Stadium involving a minibus registration number BAB 1759 driven by Jacob Shawa aged 36 of Kabanana compound had its left rear window damaged valued at K3,500.
“Police investigations indicate that about 30 unknown persons where seen walking from town along the Great North Road and once they came across a Flash bus, they picked stones and hit the bus,” said Mr. Mwale.
He said following the attacks on mini busses, Police officers quickly moved in and order was restored.
Mr. Mwale said investigations have been instituted and a manhunt for the other suspects has been launched.
So the police have to wait for instructions for them to act from a party functionary. Do not distance the Upnd from this fracas but instead instead investigate and discipline those members responsible
This story describes the crime, names the victims, describes the damage and cost to victims, tells you how many vandals were involved, goes on to name the head vandal and adds that he has been arrested. What more do you want? All this happened before you heard what Mweetwa had to say.
This is just the usual habitual and unthinking knee jerk animosity and hate toward certain people.
1.1 What is your problem…..and why have you mentioned hate ?
A case of metamorphosis – PF cadres changing colors to red, appears UPND are not picking this up. And please UPND don’t admit every defector, most of these are excess baggage and they will cost your reign
In this matter the Police can only take instructions from 4 persons and unfortunately Cornelius Mweetwa isn’t one of them. It’s either HH as President, Jack Mwiimbu as Minister in Charge of internal security, Sheal Mulyata as Provincial Minister since it happened in her province and Kajoba as IG. So where does Mweetwa fit in? The earlier he accepts that he’s a mere Lusambo of Southern province the better otherwise he’s just being a nuisance.
By all means, if you have a bone to pick with Mweetwa, have at it. Don’t use his announcement here is a trojan horse to launch your attack.
As someone who speaks for the party, and indeed as a citizen, He is merely urging police to arrest vandals who think we are still under PF. In any case, police seem to have made swift headway – we know who the victims are and the damage, it also appears the head vandal has been arrested.
Quite refreshing if you ask me. Not ati bring me evidence.
Police don’t take instructions from party officials
This ka f00Iish dwarf doesn’t realise that he is asking his police thugs to go after his fellow upnd members. No arrest will be made because under hh no upnd members can do anything wrong.
We now learned that hh spends his time reading and responding to comments on social media and even Lusaka times. Hh I know you are reading this ka chicarla!
It seems this cadre issue is quickly turning into a big problem. UPND party needs to jack up and nip it whilst it’s still in the bud. Otherwise, it will be a very sad story for them. I am reliably informed that UPND thugs in Kitwe also beat up members of a big football club in their own club. No one has reported this to the public, and the police have not done anything about it even though they were called.
30 people were seen marching causing havoc but only one arrested? Where are the rest of these criminals.
One has jus given you a thumbs down.
PF thugs at it again….arrest them before the situation gets out of hand.