By SIMON MUNTEMBA
GOVERNMENT is horrified with the barbaric attack of the District Administration Officer (DAO) in Kasama and the police should quickly arrest and bring to book all those behind the heinous act, Minister of Information and Media Chushi Kasanda has said.
But leader of the Golden Party of Zambia, Jackson Silavwe said the police must not just arrest attackers of the DAO in Kasama but also swiftly arrest UPND national youth chairperson Gilbert Liswaniso for blatantly inciting violence on perceived political opponents.
Reacting to a video that went viral on Friday of suspected UPND cadres captured mercilessly assaulting the Kasama DAO, Ms Beauty Namukoko, Ms Kasanda said the act was senseless, inhuman and intolerable.
She said Government condemned in the strongest terms the barbaric attack on Ms Namukoko.
“I should categorically state that the perpetrators in this despicable video should be treated as criminals and not be misconstrued as political cadres. The police are urged to pursue these criminals and bring them to book to answer for their criminal acts,” Ms Kasanda said.
The minister said Government believed that no sane political cadre should resort to violence and disregard the rule of law.
Ms Kasanda warned that Government would not condone criminality and anyone found wanting shall face the wrath of the law.
She said the new dawn administration was determined to erase all remnants of political violence and ensure that all Zambians enjoy their freedoms as enshrined in the constitution.
Meanwhile, Mr Silavwe said the police must not only arrest the Kasama thugs but also swiftly arrest Mr Liswaniso for inciting violence.
“In the same vein, the police should arrest the UPND national youth chairperson, Mr. Liswaniso for blatantly inciting political violence on political opponents. Such public display of criminality must be met with the full force of the law,” he said
Mr Silavwe has urged the UPND leadership to quickly address the emerging rebel movement within their own party and guide them on earning a living away from politics.
He said the UPND leadership must meet their members and address them on the need to avoid political violence.
As a party, he said, together with other citizens, we are pleased with the pronouncements made by President Hakainde Hichilema on cadres and political violence, nonetheless the words will be considered cheap if they are not matched with tangible actions.
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