Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:11:21 +0000
By OSCAR MALIPENGA
A CRIMINAL complaint has been laid before the police regarding death threats issued by UPND supporters to special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda, political advisor Kaizer Zulu and Patriotic Front (PF) secretary general Mumbi Phiri, State House has disclosed.
And State House has charged that President Edgar Lungu and his office would not interfere in the ongoing criminal investigations regarding the Mongu incident.
Special assistant to the President for press and public relations Amos Chanda told a media briefing last evening that people identifying themselves as supporters of the UPND had issued death threats against him, Mr Kaizer, Mrs Phiri and the Inspector General of police Mr. Kakoma Kanganja.
Mr. Chanda said a formal complaint has been made to the Commissioner of Police for special duties and the police would pursue whether there was any criminal elements, adding that should there be any criminal elements found in the threats they would act independently and prosecute accordingly.
“To that effect, I have since reported the matter to the police to investigate not just the criminality regarding the Mongu incident but the criminality involved in the forgery of the statement,” he said. Mr. Chanda said six death threats by phone call had been made to him.
He said other threats had been issued to Mr Zulu, Mrs Phiri and the Inspector General of Police.
“Those threats are being investigated as criminal acts,” Mr Chanda said.
And Mr. Chanda has rubbished a forged statement issued by the UPND media team signed under his name.
“The UPND media has released a forged statement and signed it under my name to the effect that President Lungu has ordered the police to stop any further arrest regarding the incident in Mongu and that the nation must move towards reconciliation.
“Let me state categorically that the statement is forgery and it is not coming from the President neither is it coming from me,” he said.
Mr. Chanda said the police would decisively act against any act of criminal behaviour that had taken place, was taking place and that would take place and there would be no interference and no restraint whatsoever from State House.
“The police will act independently and they will determine the charges against anyone regardless of who they are and they place those charges against those people and they will prosecute according to the laid down procedure, according to the to the law and in line with the Constitution,” Mr. Chanda said.
He said criminal investigations were still ongoing regarding the incident in Mongu.
Mr. Chanda said several crimes were committed but it was up to the police to decide whether to prosecute or not.
“It is up to the police to decide who to arrest and not,” Mr. Chanda said.
