By SIMON MUNTEMBA
IT is not true that one of my key witnesses, Lukas Tompwe, who was assaulted by UPND cadres is on police wanted list for murder because he has never been in hiding, PF Mandevu Member of Parliament Christopher Shakafuswa has said.
In an interview, Mr Shakafuswa said the UPND leaders should not justify the thuggery behavior of their cadres at the Lusaka High Court by lying that the victim was on a police wanted list when not.
Mr Shakafuswa who refuted allegations by UPND media director Ruth Saunders that the victim in the Friday fracas was a murder suspect said that was a lie.
“That is a blue lie, the UPND just want to justify the thuggery behavior of their cadres which is very unfortunate.
“Lukas Tompwe is not just one of my key witness in the petition case, but he is also our deputy media team director who is always moving with me anywhere and if he was wanted for murder, he would have been arrested a long time ago. He has actually been escorting me to court since day one,” he said.
He said he would not comment further because the matter was still active in court.
On Sunday, the UPND alliance defended its party cadres who mercilessly took turns in punching, slapping and kicking Mr Tompwe at the Lusaka High Court grounds.
At a media briefing, UPND Media Director Ruth Saunders said the UPND supporters were merely trying to alert the police on the suspect linked to the death one of their members.
Ms Saunders said the irate cadres wanted to stage a citizen arrest on a PF member whom they alleged was part of a group that murdered one of their members during the 2021 election campaigns.
UPND Alliance spokesperson Thabo Kawana also alleged that there was a ploy by the opposition PF to tarnish the image of President Hakainde Hichilema.
Mr Kawana said claims by PF Mandevu MP that one of his key witnesses was assaulted by UPND cadres was one of the ploys to tarnish the new dawn Government administration image.
The fracas happened on Friday immediately after the adjournment of the Mandevu Parliamentary petition hearing for continued trial, in a case where losing UPND candidate Aaron Mulope has asked the Lusaka High Court to nullify the election of Mr Shakafuswa as Mandevu MP citing violence and corruption.
