THE masterminds of the current spate of gassing witnessed in the country are most likely linked to the 2017 chemical warfare where markets and strategic installations were torched or sabotaged, and police must fish these characters out of their hiding, Patriotic Front (PF) Mandevu Constituency secretary Lemmy Bwalya has demanded.
According to the PF officials interviewed, police should get to the root of the 2017 chemical attacks where some UPND cadres where prosecuted for being in possession of potassium permanganate to establish linkages with the current gassing incidences because the pattern is the same.
In 2017, Lusaka Magistrate Slyvia Munyinya acquitted four United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters who were found with potassium permanganate, one plastic bottle of glycerin.
However, Mr Bwalya said in an interview that the suspects who were prosecuted and acquitted in previous attacks could be relevant to the ongoing investigations on gassing.
“Police should get to the root of the 2017 chemical attacks where some UPND cadres where prosecuted for being in possession of potassium permanganate to establish linkages with current gassings,” he said.
And Mr Bwalya called the ruling party and State House not to entertain attempts by UPND president, Hakainde Hichilema to meet the President.
He questioned why Mr Hichilema thinks that the current chemical attacks could come to an end if he met President Lungu.
“What is Hichilema and UPND afraid off? Do they know something? Are they behind the scheme? Why then is it that the gassing can stop if Mr Hichilema meets President Lungu?” he questioned.
Mr Bwalya said the country should begin to question why Mr Hichilema does not attend prayers when invited but busy requesting for secret and under the dark meetings.
“The country has been hit with trauma, the calamity came at a time not expected.
Surely, how can a normal person demand for an election amidst the grief, sorrow and pains we’re still suffering from?” he said.
