ECL ATTACK, HARASSMENT: UPND UNDER FIRE

By NATION REPORTER 

VARIOUS interest groups including politicians have roundly condemned the UPND for carrying out a verbal onslaught against former President Edgar Lungu and attempting to block him from attending the Malaila Traditional Ceremony of the Kunda people in Mambwe even after he had been invited by the traditional leadership.

The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD), the House of Chiefs, the Patriotic Front (PF) and veteran politician George Mpombo have all expressed grave concern at the violent conduct by the UPND cadres who caused a rumpus in Mambwe because they did not want him to part of the ceremony.

SACCORD executive director Boniface Cheembe said it was regrettable that despite President Hakainde Hichilema taking a strong stance against political hooliganism, the UPND cadres had continued harassing citizens.

Mr Cheembe has since called on stakeholders to condemn the action by cadres as Zambians do not support such acts.

And the PF has condemned in strongest terms the attempts by UPND cadres to block the former President from attending  the Malaila traditional ceremony. 

Chishimba Kambwili, the PF member of the central committee said the actions by the governing party cadres was proof that the UPND government was insecure and could only maintain its relevance through hooliganism.

Mr Kambwili said when a government was performing and was sure that it provided what people wanted, it could not resort to undemocratic tendencies and violence as a means of remaining relevant and wanted. 

“The violence that took place in Mambwe clearly showed that UPND had no confidence of its own. The refusal by the government for the PF to hold a rally is a sign that the UPND has become so insecure that it has to resort to intimidation and harassment as a means of governing the country,” Mr Kambwili said.

And PF national youth chairperson Christopher Kang’ombe has reminded UPND youths that former President Lungu was not under any house arrest therefore he is at liberty to attend any event.

Mr Kang’ombe said the former head of state was not under any house arrest and that he was at liberty to attend public events when invited.

Mr Kang’ombe has since condemned both the officers from the Zambia Police Service (ZP) and the UPND cadres for attempting to prevent Zambia’s sixth President from attending a traditional ceremony in Mambwe on Saturday.

“I wish to remind the Zambia Police Service that their main mandate is to promote and preserve law and order in the country, and what we witnessed on Saturday was truly disheartening and very unpatriotic behavior from the service. Blocking the movement of the 6th President and his delegation who were attending an event at the invitation of His Royal Highness Chief Nsefu of the Kunda people was uncalled for and leaves much to be desired,” Mr Kang’ombe said.

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