By ADRIAN MWANZA
THE fracas involving two UPND teams in Mazabuka on Saturday was as a result of a scramble for T-shirts, UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has disclosed.
Mr Mweetwa said that the matter was a “friendly” fight among cadres who disagreed over the sharing of T-shirts.
The cadres exchanged blows and stones after they disagreed on the sharing of T-shirts which resulted in a punch up.
But Mr Mweetwa said unlike what was reported in the media, the issue was not bad and was just a “friendly” clash.
“I can assure you it was just a minor misunderstanding amongst family members over the sharing of our party regalia and not because there were deep divisions,” he said.
He claimed that the whole thing was fanned by the Patriotic Front who allegedly bought some UPND regalia in the guise to paint the party black.
Mr Mweetwa said that the PF connived with one of the group members and bought about 200 T-shirts which they wanted to use and stage-manage defections, a move which incensed their colleagues.
He said the party was still strong in Mazabuka and that there were no divisions whatsoever as was being portrayed.
On Saturday, Zambia Police Deputy Spokesperson Danny Mwale said the Police received a call where cadres belonging to mayoral candidate Vincent Lilanda and aspiring Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo were involved in a fight.
Mr Mwale said two victims were caught up in the fracas. Mr Watson Hachintu aged 43 sustained a deep cut on the stomach after he was stubbed with a knife.
The was Mr Berry Nguvulu 46 of Stage 2 Compound from the Lilanda faction who also sustained a swollen head after being assaulted by Bright Sikazinga also from the Garry Nkombo faction who assaulted him with a stone.
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