Political violence flares up in Kitwe’s Wusakile constituency

By ROGERS KALERO

SUSPECTED UPND cadres on Tuesday afternoon attacked members of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) at Fire By Fire Church in Chibote Ward of Wusakile constituency before smashing windscreens of the two vehicles, among them a white Ford Ranger registration number ALD 9248

The UPND cadres also damaged property worth millions of Kwacha at the church as they ran amok calling for the blood of NRPUP Wusakile Constituency secretary and Wusakile local government candidate Charles Silomba and others.

 Mayoral candidate Charles Kabwita confirmed the incident and said he was abducted, beaten and handed over to the Police at Wusakile Police Station by UPND cadres whom he can identify and have been involved in a number of violent activites against the opposition.

“Yes, I can confirm that I was abducted, beaten and handed over to Police by UPND cadres who seem to have been given instructions to intimidate, harass and beat up the opposition,’’ Mr Kabwita said

Mr Kabwita also confirmed the incident where the UPND cadres attacked members of the NRPUP at Fire By Fire Church in Chibote Ward of Wusakile constituency before smashing windscreens of the two vehicles, among them a white Ford Ranger registration number ALD 9248

Mr Kabwita said the matter was reported to Wusakile Police Station which responded, but upon realising that the NRPUP had reported the matter to police, the UPND cadres stormed the Police Station in big numbers, and instructed the Police to lock up Mr Silomba, Mayoral candidate Charles Kabwita and one of the drivers

“After allegedly getting instructions from the UPND cadres, we were arrested and detained, while the UPND assailants were left to enjoy their freedom.

“One wonders what kind of laws where the assailants are left to enjoy their freedom, while those who were attacked are detained and arrested. Anyway, Zambians are watching, it’s a matter of time,’’ Mr Kabwita said

Copperbelt Police Commissioner Mwala Yuyi confirmed the arrest of the three NRPUP members and the damaging of the two vehicles during the violent attack of the UPND cadres.

Mr Yuyi said the incident happened on Tuesday, at about 15 hours near Wusakile Local Court in Chibote Ward, and was reported at 17 hours by Mr. Brian Mulenga, aged 47, of House No.1208, Mukuba Natwange in Kitwe.

Mr Yuyi said Mr. Mulenga, who is the UPND Kitwe youth coordinator for administration reported on behalf of the party that a group of individuals believed to be members of the NRPUP/Tonse Alliance were conducting themselves in a manner likely to disturb public peace during a UPND campaign activity in the constituency.

Police received the report and instituted investigations. Following interviews with the involved parties, Yaya Shawa aged 40 of H#4776 Lulamba Drive, SilombaChalwe aged 46 of H/No B-2 Wusakile compound in Kitwe and Charles Kabwita aged 43 of House Number 46/2 Riverside Extension in Kitwe were arrested and charged with the offence of conduct likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Ends.