Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Police officers from Lusaka Central Police yesterday evening stormed MUVI television, in search of controversial Zambian musician Chama Fumba, alias Pilato.
The plain-clothed officers stormed the Nangwenya road based television station at exactly 21:00 hours on information that the musician was featuring on a programme dubbed the” Assignment” in the studios.
The horde of Officers later demanded for a register from Manager-On-Duty, Mabvuto Phiri to verify the entry points and possible whereabouts of Pilato.They later left in frustration following Mr. Phiri’s refusal to release the register without the presence of the company lawyer and general manager, Costa Mwansa.
The police officers wondered why Muvi TV did not offer a helping hand in alerting of the presence of the musician on their premises.
And Speaking on the Assignment programme from unknown destination, Pilato vehemently denied ever defaming President Edgar Lungu in his hit son, Alungu Anabwela.The Zambian musician justified that the song was meant to send a message to the Zambian people.He accused some people of being the ones who are defaming the President for misinterpreting his song.
Singer Pilato with HH at the Kanyama rally
The opposition UPND has defended controversial musician Pilato who is expected to be questioned by police this morning after releasing a song mocking President Edgar Lungu.
UPND Chairman for Legal Affairs Jack Mwimbu said the state is harassing an innocent person by summoning Pilato to the police for questioning.
Mr Mwimbu also revealed that the UPND will provide legal assistance to the Copperbelt musician as he faces the police today.
Pilato has not defamed anybody. That song he released was all satire and everybody is entitled to an opinion,’ Mr Mwimbu said.
He added, ‘Unless the PF don’t understand what satire is, they should seek guidance of those who are knowledgeable. He has not defamed anyone as far as we concerned.’
THE Road Transport and Safety Agency (RTSA) Board is planning to start holding prayers as one of the several strategies to curb the increasing road accidents in the country.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communication Minister Yamfwa Mukanga said the RTSA Board told him that they would soon start holding prayers to seek God’s intervention on increasing road accidents in Zambia which have claimed many lives of citizens.
Speaking in an interview in Livingstone, Mr Mukanga said the first day of prayers was expected to take place on June 14, 2015 in Lusaka
“The RTSA board has told me one of the measures they want to do to mitigate road accidents is that they will be conducting prayers.
“I think they have set June 14, 2015 to pray for this country and move forward. We want to see a difference because we don’t want to lose more lives,” he said.
Mr Mukanga noted that many people had lost their lives due to road accidents which were caused by drivers.
“RTSA will be carrying out a number of big operations because of what is happening where we have continued to lose a lot of lives.
“We have to start doing 24 hours of checking what is happening on the roads as some of these road accidents would have been avoided. How do you expect nine people to travel in a Corolla and survive? That is seriously overloading and these are some of the issues we have been putting a blind eye and the effects have been very disastrous,” Mr Mukanga said.
He said if the probability of accident increased, there would chances that every person boarding a bus or taxi might not come back home.
“We don’t want to have such a probability. We want Zambians to take ownership and responsibility on the roads.
“Some of these young people who are dying in road accidents could have been our future doctors, engineers, teachers and politicians just to mention a few,” he said.
Mr Mukanga said it would be difficult to talk about sustainable development for the future at the rate in which a lot of people were dying through road accidents.
“We need to sustain these precious lives. It is unacceptable to continue losing lives especially through human error, overloading and careless driving.
“For parents who have money, they should not give their unlicensed children to drive their vehicle as this is risky. There is also need to stop the habit of drinking and driving as this is also a source of many road accidents,” Mr Mukanga said.
Meanwhile, Mr Mukanga said it was unacceptable that some police officers were ignoring the directive issued by Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila recently for them not to mount unnecessary roadblocks.
“If there is a security check on the road, it should be a security check and not where police officers are asking for other questionable things.
“Unnecessary roadblocks have been addressed by the Minister of Home Affairs and everybody should follow what the Minister has said. We are not going to accept a situation where the Minister has issues an instruction and some police offices are not following it,” Mr Mukanga said.
Lewanika General Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Kambinda Likambi (r) explains to Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary for Special Duties Bert Mushala (l) the construction progress of maternity wing which is near completion soon as Mongu District acting Commissioner Alice Mutemwa (c) and Lewanika General Hospital Senior Environmental Officer ChilwanaJunist (2nd l) listen during the tour in Western Province to compile major developmental projects,
Mongu Central Member of Parliament Nathaniel Mubukwanu has called on the management at Lewanika General Hospital in Mongu to improve the delivery of health services to the people of Western province.
Mr Mubukwanu said his office has received numerous complaints from the surrounding community on the poor services that the hospital was offering.
ZANIS reports that speaking when he addressed Lewanika General Hospital management after touring the institution, Mr Mubukwanu, who is also Southern province Minister, said failure of the hospital management to perform to people’s expectations will make the people translate it as a failure on part of the Patriotic Front (PF) government.
“ I agree that the hospital is the second oldest in the country, but this should not give you an excuse to fail to meet your mandate of providing quality health care services to the people of Mongu district and western province as a whole”, he said.
Mr Mubukwanu said people have complained about the attitude of the health personnel at the hospital and called on management to quickly address the issue.
He also urged the hospital management to establish a public relations office at the hospital in order to improve communication with the public to reduce complaints.
“If Lewanika General Hospital does not communicate well with the public, this being a government institution people will rise against Government for the failure of the hospital management to perform”, he said.
The Member of Parliament was also not happy with the dirty walls and floors he noted during the tour of the hospital and called for an immediate clean-up of the health institution.
He said Government believes that a hospital should provide a clean and healthy environment for the patients.
“I understand the challenge of water the institution is facing, as such I will purchase a booster pump at the cost of K2000 to ease this water challenge on condition that you clean up the hospital and repair all leaking taps”, he said.
Meanwhile, Lewanika General Hospital Medical Superintendent Muntanga Mapani said the institution has a shortage of staff.
Dr Mapani said although the hospital has expanded it has continued to operate under the old establishment making it difficult for to perform to expectation.
She said the hospital had a challenge of accessing drugs through medical stores saying instead it has to buy the medicines resulting in a debt of about K1.2 million.
Dr Mapani however appealed to Mr Mubukwanu to help the hospital address some of the challenges that are hindering its service delivery.
And in response, Mr Mubukwanu assured the hospital management that he would help the institution table its operational challenges to the Ministry of Health.
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) secretary-general Davies Chama says the ruling party will from now on expend its energies on delivering development to all parts of the country instead of responding to President Lungu’s critics.
Mr Chama said the PF leadership has realised that politicking is taking a toll on the pace of development in the country.
He said this in Mulobezi yesterday when he addressed PF members.
“The PF has embarked on a programme of transforming the country by way of taking development to all the parts of the country.
“We want to make Zambia a better country for people to live in,” Mr Chama said.
He said the culture of bickering is highly pronounced in Zambia, a trend he said is negating development.
Mr Chama said Zambia has continued to lag in development because of political bickering.
He said it is important to unite for the purpose of promoting the country’s development instead of engaging in abstracts.
Mr Chama also said the PF government will not embark on projects that will have a negative bearing on the country’s resources.
He said the PF is interested in implementing programmes and projects that will help uplift the living standards of all Zambians regardless of their political, religious or ethnicity affiliations.
“We want to run away from by-elections because they have proven to be a waste of resources which can even be channelled to programmes that can uplift the living standards of our people,” Mr Chama said.
He urged the people of Zambia to continue supporting President Lungu’s efforts of developing the country.
Meanhile, about 1,000 United Party for National Development (UPND) members in Mulobezi have defected to the PF.
Among those who defected to PF are former UPND Sichili ward co-ordinator Charles Munyamu, former Sichili ward chairman Martin Mubita and Sichili ward vice chairlady Matilda Mawanga.
Others are Sichili ward publicity secretary Gilbert Simonda, Sichili ward youth chairperson Nyowa Mundongo and chairlady Christine Sayizamba.
Mr Munyamu, who spoke on behalf of the defectors, cited poor leadership in the UPND, among the reasons he and his colleagues decided to join PF.
He said he and the rest of the group decided to join PF because of the good leadership President Lungu and his administration have exhibited.
‘’We are happy with what is happening under the leadership of President Lungu.
“We are seeing development coming to this area and this is what the people want from the government,” Mr Munyamu said.
He appealed to people in the region to vote for President Lungu in the 2016 general elections.
And Western Province PF chairperson Charles Mututwa said people in the region are joining PF because of the massive development projects that Government is implementing.
“We are receiving a lot of development projects in Western Province and people are happy.
“The people have promised to vote for the PF and President Lungu in the 2016 general elections,” Mr Mututwa said.
He urged the people in the region to continue supporting President Lungu and his administration to help foster meaningful development in the area.
Sunday Chanda
THE Patriotic Front (PF) has urged the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to provide guidance in the constitution-making process instead of allegedly promoting lawlessness.
PF vice chairperson for the media and publicity committee Sunday Chanda told a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday that it is not good for LAZ to slow down the constitution-making process.
He was reacting to the move by LAZ to urge members of Parliament (MPs) to reject Government’s proposal to amend the constitution in a phased manner by taking non-contentious clauses to Parliament and subjecting contentious ones to a referendum.
Mr Chanda said it is wrong for LAZ to call on elected MPs to abscond their duties in Parliament when they are elected to make laws.
“We want to invite LAZ to lead the way in opening up the debate on the details of the final draft constitution. It will be regrettable if LAZ is going to be like NGOs which are not professional bodies,” he said.
Mr Chanda called on LAZ to highlight the contents of the final draft constitution so that the general public can understand the contents.
Mr Chanda also said it is unfortunate that the Grand Coalition on a people-driven constitution is advocating the holding of a referendum before debating the contents of the final draft constitution.
Meanwhile, the PF has described as false and malicious reports by some sections of the media targeted at First Lady Esther Lungu.
Mr Chanda said in a statement yesterday that PF is dismayed at the malicious attacks in Friday’s edition of The Post newspaper editorial targeted at Mrs Lungu.
The Post accused Mrs Lungu of allegedly launching President Lungu’s early campaign.
“Firstly, other first ladies that have gone before Mrs Lungu each did some kind of charity in their own capacities. First ladies the world-over play a critical role in supporting their spouses,” Mr Chanda said.
He said it is important to accept that the country has a first lady who does not sit idly by but reaches out to the needy and vulnerable communities across the country.
“While we do not expect everyone to commend the charitable works Mrs Lungu is doing for the vulnerable across the country, it is desired that commentators rise above pettiness and sheer malice,” Mr Chanda said.
FILE: Police officers push former Zambezi West Member of Parliament Charles Kakoma out of the Lusaka Central Police Station.
United Party for National Development (UPND) spokesperson Charles Kakoma has disclosed that Mulobezi parliamentary candidate Hastings Sililo has gone into hiding.
Mr Kakoma said that Mr Sililo has allegedly gone into hiding and that this defeats the essence of having elections because the UPND has been disadvantaged.
Mr Kakoma was reacting to news of the arrest of UPND members by the Police.
On Saturday , Police in Western Province arrested UPND Sesheke Central member of Parliament (MP) Siyauya Sianga for allegedly being part of a group of machete-wielding thugs who attacked Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Davies Chama and his entourage in Mulobezi.
“The MP did nothing to be arrested,” Mr Kakoma said. Mr Kakoma called on the police to ensure law and order is maintained.
Mr Sianga, Gerald Imanda and Godfrey Likamba were arrested on Saturday and are detained at Sichili Police Post in Mulobezi while Mushaukwa Mushaukwa is nursing a gunshot wound under police guard at Sesheke District Hospital.
Inspector-General of Police Stella Libongani and Western Province commissioner of police Standwell Lungu confirmed Mr Sianga’s arrested along with the two UPND cadres.
Ms Libongani said the three were arrested after Mr Chama and PF officials reported the attack to Sichili Police Post.
“Police officers found offensive weapons in Mr Sianga’s vehicle after searching it,” Ms Libongani said.
She warned that the police will firmly deal with individuals perpetrating violence in Mulobezi.
Mr Lungu said the police arrested Mr Sianga, who is UPND parliamentary candidate Sililo’s campaign manager, because he was found at the scene where Mr Chama and his entourage were attacked by suspected UPND cadres.
“We have arrested and detained Mr Sianga because he was found at the scene where Mr Chama was attacked.
“After searching his vehicle, the police found a panga, an axe and a pistol. So, he is in police custody,” Mr Lungu said.
And police spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda said in a statement yesterday that police have apprehended Mr Sianga and Mr Likamba along with Mr Mushaukwa, who is nursing a gunshot wound in hospital.
“A pistol with seven rounds of ammunition and other offensive weapons were recovered from a Toyota Hilux registration number ALD 9469 belonging to honourable Sianga. The Hilux was one of the vehicles that were used to block the road when the attack happened,” Mrs Munganga-Chanda said.
She said the vehicle has been impounded and investigations into the matter have continued.
Meanwhile, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is expected to hold a media briefing today at 09:00hrs at the UPND Party Secretariat
Zambia have beaten ten-man Ethiopia 1-0 in a friendly played away on Sunday in Addis Ababa.
An Allan Mukuka goal handed Zambia coach Honour Janza’s his eighth win from 18 matches at the helm.
The Green Buffaloes winger headed-in the winning goal in the 45th minute to score his second goal in a Zambia shirt in 2015 since ending his five-year exile in March when he also scored in a 2-0 friendly win over Rwanda in Lusaka.
And the day also marked striker Emmanuel Mayuka’s return after a six-month layoff following his recent recovery from a groin injury he suffered in January at the 2015 Africa Cup in Equatorial Guinea.
Mayuka came on i the 65th minute after replacing Lubambo Musonda.
Meanwhile, Ethiopia wasted a great opportunity to get an equaliser in the 75th minute when Binyam Assefa missed a penalty.
Ethiopia were later reduced to ten men in the 85th minute after Mujib Kasim was sent-off for a second booking after receiving his initailly yellow card in the 27th minute.
Zambia head back home on Monday and will fly straight to Ndola from Addis Ababa to set up base ahead of their 2017 Africa
Police in Sesheke District have apprehended four people in connection with the attack of the PF Secretary General Davis Chama and his entourage which happened yesterday in Mulobezi constituency.
Police Spokesperson Charity Munganga – Chanda has told QFM News in a statement that the suspects include the Sesheke Central Member of Parliament Siyanga Siyauya, Gerad Imanda, Likamba Godfrey while the fourth one Mushaukwa Mushaukwa is nursing his wound in Sesheke District Hospital under police guard.
Ms Chanda says a pistol with seven rounds of ammunition and other offensive weapons were recovered from a Toyota Hilux Reg. NO. ALD 9469 belonging to Mr. Siyauya.
She says the Hilux was one of the vehicles that were used to block the road when the attack happened.
The Police Spokesperson furthermore states that the vehicle has since been impounded and investigations into the matter continue.
Now former UPND vice president-political Richard Kapita
Former United Party for National Development (UPND) vice president Richard Kapita says the defections of opposition party members to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) are an indication that the people are being inspired by President Lungu’s leadership of inclusiveness.
Mr Kapita who recently joined the ruling party cited the latest defections of the MMD and some UPND officials to the ruling party during President Edgar Lungu’s visit was an indication that the PF was a progressive party.
Mr. Kapita claimed that the UPND and Movement for Democracy and Development parties are finished and have nothing to offer the Zambian people.
The former UPND Mwinilunga West Member of Parliament was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Chavuma district.
“During my defection to the PF in Mwinilunga district, l said the opposition UPND is finished and many others will follow me they denied that but today, my words have come to fruition. PF is the only party capable of developing Zambia nothing else,” he said.
Another PF member Goodson Sansakuwa said new members from the opposition joining PF have seen that the PF party manifesto is good.
Mr. Sansakuwa, a former MMD provincial Chairman, said in a separate interview that that MMD and the PF have got similar ideologies.
Mr. Sansakuwa said the defectors want to work with government hence their decision to join a party of national character like the PF.
“MMD and PF have got similar ideologies therefore instead of having two political parties, its better we only have one,” he said.
President Lungu who received the defectors reiterated that PF members and leaders must accept new members from other political parties who are willing to work with the ruling party.
Mr Lungu, who is also PF President, vowed that he would not be detracted by critics as he remains focused and determined to strengthen the party and develop the nation.
“Those standing in our way preventing people to come in must get out now. PF is for everyone and this is what Mr. Sata taught me…to embrace numbers because that is what power is about,” he said.
President Lungu said those joining PF must follow the party manifesto and ensure they do what “is pleasing to the party”.
He directed PF Party officials in the North Western province to ensure that more opposition members join the PF
Luanshya District Commissioner Harold Mbaulu has observed that government is losing mineral revenue due to lack of mechanisms in place to ensure transparency on how much money the mines where realizing and remitting to government.
Mr. Mbaulu said transparency was cardinal in the country’s benefit from the extractive industry, but that it was unfortunate that some mining companies where hiding information on their earnings to benefit themselves.
ZANIS reports that the Luanshya DC was speaking yesterday during the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative and extractive industry report sensitization workshop organized by an NGO ‘Publish What You Pay’.
He said government prioritizes the welfare of its people and as such was defining mechanisms which would determine how much the mines where remitting to government to enable citizens claim what belongs to them.
And speaking at the same occasion, PWYP Chairperson Chisomo Phiri said the extractive industries can contribute significantly to Zambia’s economic development and provide opportunities for foreign investment and private sector development.
Mr. Phiri noted that the industry can also generate the much needed government revenues, foreign exchange earnings and quality employment once well harnessed.
He has since called for sensitization on how people can benefit from mineral revenue in mining towns, saying the usage of mining revenues must be made public to promote accountability in the mining sector.
Mr. Phiri however observed that experience has shown that the presence of extractive industries in most parts of the country often breeds underdevelopment, land displacement, violation of human rights, poverty, environmental degradation, health, and social problems, including conflict.
“It is in this regard that the Zambian ‘publish what you pay coalition’ emphasizes that government does not limit their discussion or disagreements on the apportionment of costs
and benefits among stakeholders, but about who counts as a stakeholder and about how
costs and benefits are to be conceived in relation to the now generation and the future”, Mr Phiri said.
He further appealed to government to control the exploitation of natural resources adding that minerals were a diminishing asset and therefore the need to ensure proper utilization of the money realized from the mines.
PWYP campaign is a framework and strategy that contributes to the natural resource accountability agenda.
The workshop was attended by Luanshya Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Chibesa Mulenga, heads of government departments, members of parliament representatives from both Roan and Luanshya central constituencies, former mine workers union officials and the civil society.
Sunday Chanda
The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in Lusaka have condemned the violence by suspected opposition UPND cadres on Secretary General Davies Chama and his convoy in Mulobezi district.
PF Acting Media Director Sunday Chanda accused the UPND of using the infamous “Mapatizya” formular which was allegedly used in Choma district in Southern province.
Speaking at the same occasion, PF Strategy, Media and Publicity member Mulenga Fube accused Civil Society Organization (CSOs) of making acrimonious statements on President Edgar Lungu and the entire PF leaders to defend their donors.
Mr. Fube said the CSOs chief executive officers were using the constitution to fight government.
He advised the CSOs that Article 296 over land is not the only issue but that there are other contentious matters in the draft constitution which government was addressing.
Human Rights Defender and Governance Expert Ngande Mwanajiti regretted that people were violating the public order act using the draft constitution.
Mr. Mwanajiti commended Police in Mulobezi for their quick intervention to quell the situation in Mulobezi yesterday.
Meanwhile, Mr Chanda said the PF is a non-violent political party and condemned the Mapatizya formula as belonging to the stone age period.
Mr. Chanda, who was flanked by PF Strategy, Media and Publicity members Mulenga Fube and Human Rights Defender and Governance Expert Ngande Mwanajiti was speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka today.
He claimed that the PF is standing on fertile grounds in the three parliamentary by-elections in Mulobezi, Petauke Central and Malambo seats slated for June 30, 2015.
He commended Mulobezi Police for detaining former UPND Member of Parliament and candidate, Hastings Sililo for allegedly masterminding the ambush against the PF Secretary General and causing violence that occurred last evening.
Mr. Sililo’s official vehicle registration number ALD 9469 was found with axes and pangas and his Toyota Hilux D4D has since been impounded.
Yesterday, a convoy of vehicles belonging to the UPND descended on the motorcade of PF Secretary General Davies Chama who had gone to Mulobezi on a campaign tour to drum up support for the Party candidate, Patricia Mulasikwanda in the June 30 parliamentary by-election.
The Supreme Court nullified the Mulobezi seat due to Electoral corruption and malpractices.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) advised political parties to refrain from importing cadres to areas of by-elections to discourage incidences of violence and clashes.
President Lungu driving a caterpillar after the launch of the Solwezi-Chingola rehabilitation works
President Edgar Lungu has wound-up his three-day working visit to the North Western province where he vowed to defend the Republican Constitution and to carry-on with the One Zambia One Nation motto.
Mr Lungu also said that he would defend the Constitution as enshrined in the preamble of hard work, unity and peace and the declaration of Zambia as a Christian nation.
During his visit, the President was in Solwezi, Kasempa, Zambezi and Chavuma districts where he commissioned road works including the rehabilitation of the Solwezi-Chingola road and the commencement of works on the Kasempa-Mumbwa road.
The President also officially opened the National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE) Branch in Kasempa district and also held a meeting with the traditional leaders of Zambezi district, Senior Chiefs Ndungu and Ishindi to help resolve their tribal disputes.
ZANIS reports that President Lungu also praised First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda for introducing the One Zambia One Nation motto which has been carried on from the pre-independence era to the present day and has helped unite the Zambian people.
Mr Lungu condemned the tribal conflicts between Senior Chief Ishindi of the Lunda speaking people and Senior Chief Ndungu of the Luvale people of Zambezi district in the North Western province.
“Let us keep the unity in the country and I will carry on the One Zambia One Nation motto, that’s what I will live and die for,” President Lungu said.
President Lungu urged the two traditional leaders to reconcile and put their differences aside in an effort to develop Zambezi district.
He urged them to uphold the peace the citizens were enjoying and pleaded with them not to use retrogressive vices of ‘war of words or cold war.
And President Edgar Lungu has urged the people of Chavuma to register as voters in September, this year.
President Lungu says a voter’s card is the only authority to govern the direction people want by electing leaders of their choice.
Mr. Lungu said people should take advantage of the registration of voters when it commences in September this year.
President Lungu was speaking in Chavuma district yesterday when he addressed residents that welcomed him before commissioning the 9.5 kilo meters of township road works.
He appealed to the people of Chavuma and Zambezi districts against voting for the opposition in next year’s tripartite elections.
He said the ruling PF is a progressive party hence people should desist from experiments because PF is on course to fulfilling its promises.
President Lungu said this was the more reason why people were defecting to the ruling party on a daily basis because of the good fiscal policies of the PF government.
Meanwhile, President Lungu pledged to develop Chavuma district, the North-Western province and the country as a whole.
“I’ll develop Chavuma district inspite of you people belonging to different political parties. But l urge you to register as voters when you have an opportunity because a voter’s card gives you authority of choose a leader of your choice,” he said.
During his visit to the region, President Lungu commissioned the commencement of rehabilitation works of township roads in Solwezi, Kasempa, Zambezi and Chavuma districts.
The roads are being constructed at a cost of K128 million.
However, President Lungu expressed disappointed with reports of vandalism at Chavuma district hospital which is under construction at a cost of K22 million.
The Zambian Voice has urged the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership to take responsibility of the violence being perpetrated by their cadres in the Mulobezi Constituency by-elections.
Executive Director Chilufyya Tayali said the violence that happened in Machile area in Mulobezi constituency is unfortunate and should be investigated to ensure that the perpetrators are punished.
Mr Tayali said in a statement to media in Lusaka today that the Zambia Voice has received information that the UPND cadres ambushed the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama in Mulobezi constituency.
“We have confirmed that the police have impounded a Toyota Hilux D4D registration number ALD 9469 allegedly belonging to the UPND campaign manager, the Sesheke Member of Parliament Siyanga Siyauya,” he said.
Mr. Tayali further said it is alleged that items of violence were found in Mr. Siyauya’s vehicle and the MP is currently in police custody as he is believed to be the mastermind of the ambush.
He said a ZAWA officer was allegedly shot during the violence when he tried to stab the driver of the PF Secretary General with a military knife and that the ZAWA officer is a suspected UPND cadre from Sesheke district.
“We don’t blame the poor cadres, but leaders who incite these poor people to engage in violence while they watch from afar and deny responsibility,” said Mr. Tayali
He observed that the PF and the UPND are the ones who are mostly involved in political violence but they seem to be less willing to take responsibility for their violent acts.
Mr. Tayali said the PF leadership and President Edgar Lungu have on a number of times condemned and warned their cadres against violence but that on the contrary, the UPND leadership has always defended its cadres.
Mr. Tayali said UPND should change their attitude and take responsibility for the violence if they were going to stop their cadres from engaging in the vice.
Below is the full statement from Tayali
UPND AND MR. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VIOLENCE OF THEIR CADRES
We never take sides with wrong things regardless of who is involved. The violence that happened in Machile, Mulobezi constituency is very and it must be investigated to make sure the perpetrators of violence are punished.
Our sources in the area have revealed to us that the United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres ambushed the Secretary General of Patriotic Front (PF) Mr. Davies Chama in Mulobezi constituency.
We have confirmed that the police have impounded a Toyota Hilux D4D registration number ALD 9469 allegedly belonging to the UPND campaign manager Mr. Siyanga Siyauya MP for Sesheke. It is alleged that items of violence were found in the said car. Mr. Siyauya is currently in police custody because he is believed to be the mastermind of the ambush.
A ZAWA officer was shot during the violence when he tried to stub the driver of the SG with a military knife which is in the hands of the police. This ZAWA officer is a UPND cadre from Sesheke. Our sources tell us that there are a number of men who have been refereed into Mulobezi constituency to campaign for UPND candidate Mr. Hastings Sililo.
We don’t blame the poor cadres, but leaders who incite these poor people to engage in violence while they watch from afar and deny responsibility.
While ruling PF and the UPND are the ones who are mostly involved in political violence, the later seem to be less willing to take responsibility for their violence acts. The leadership of UPND is lukewarm when it comes to condemning violence perpetrated their party.
A number of times we have heard the leadership of PF condemning and warning it’s cadres against violence. PF National Youth Chairman Hon. Chishimba Kambwili and President Edgar Lungu have often spoken clearly against violence. However, the UPND leadership and Mr. Hichilema have always come to the defense of their cadres. Rather than take responsibility, they cry out louder of being brutalized by the PF and the police.
Mr. Hichilema could not even condemn the violence that happened before him at Cresta Golfview Hotel which has landed some UPND cadres in trouble as the case is in High Court. Instead condemning the violence at the hotel, Mr. Hichilama blamed the freedom of movement and association of a citizen, that he should not have been there. The Assistant Secretary General Mr. Kuchunga Simusamba even went to an extent of threatening life when some UPND cadres were arrested. Such arrogance is not acceptable in a democratic society like ours, after 50 years of independence.
UPND must change their attitude and take responsibility of the violence if they are going to stop their cadres from engaging in violence. Zambians cannot be held as ransom by a political party.
President Edgar Lungu says he is disappointed with reports of vandalism at Chavuma district hospital which is under construction at a cost of K22 million.
The President said citizens have a duty to protect infrastructure that government is building for them because they are being built to serve them and at a huge cost.
President Lungu was speaking in Chavuma district yesterday when he addressed people before commissioning of the 9.5 kilo meters of township road works.
The roads are being constructed at a cost of K128 million.
“Why destroy the hospital meant to serve all of you, it’s your money that is building this infrastructure. You have a duty to protect the property, let us teach others to look after property of common good,” President Lungu said.
He said it is the intention of government to bring development to every part of the country and will not subject people to poverty on the basis of them living in rural areas but allow everyone to benefit from national resources as Zambians equally.
President Lungu explained that this is the reason government wants to open rural areas through road construction so that people can benefit from the education and health facilities being provided.
He said though people in Chavuma did not vote for him he will work for them because Zambia is one nation and he is the President of everyone.
President Lungu commended the area Member of Parliament Kenneth Konga who attended the commissioning of road works ceremony for recognising that even if he does not belong to the PF party he can work with him to develop the area.
“Let us keep the unity in the country and I will carry on the One Zambia One nation motto, that’s what I will live and die for,” President Lungu said.
President Lungu urged people in Chavuma to register as voters during the voter registration exercise which will start in September this year.
He said registering as voters will empower the people to have a say in the management of the affairs of the country through voting.
The President also called on traditional leaders and teacher to assist government to bring to end early marriages in the district.
He said marrying off girls early was destroying the future leaders of the country because the development of the country depends on an educated girl child.
Meanwhile, President Lungu concluded his three- days working visit to the North Western province yesterday and has since returned to Lusaka.
During his visit the President commissioned construction works on the Solwezi- Chingola road, township roads in Solwezi, Kasempa, Zambezi and Chavuma districts.
