Namwala violence survivors cling to Govt building
SOME of the victims of the 2016 post election violence in Namwala District of Southern Province are still living in fear of going back to the plains where they were living and have claimed the government building in which they were temporarily accommodated as their reward for voting for President Edgar Lungu.
Others have gone back while some are refusing to vacate a government house which is meant for the Namwala District Commissioner where they were accommodated before being moved to tents mounted for them by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit.
This came to light when the Daily Nation visited Namwala District on Thursday and spoke to some victims who preferred to remain anonymous for fear of being victimised again but are now trading at the main Namwala market.
According to those who have opted to settle in Namwala and run some businesses, they are afraid of going back to their settlements in the plains in Maala area for fear that what happened last year might repeat itself.
In 2016 shortly after President Edgar Lungu was declared the winner of the general elections, suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres in Namwala went on rampage burning houses and destroying property including killing domestic animals belonging to those who were perceived to be Patriotic Front (PF) sympathizers. Most of those who were targeted were those who were living in the plains along the Kafue River.
This resulted into three days of rioting by the suspected UPND cadres and more than 52 of them were arrested by police in an effort to bring order and sanity to the area.
And in an interview with the Daily Nation in Namwala yesterday, Namwala District Commissioner Mary Sakala explained that those refusing to leave the houses were now claiming it as a reward for what they went through last year.
Ms. Sakala explained that according to them (victims), they are saying that their decision to vote for President Lungu is what led to their homes and property being burnt down.
The DC said that currently, the house needs to be renovated because it is in a deplorable state due to the way it is being used.
Ms. Sakala disclosed that even as at now, the victims are still being looked after by government because it is paying for utility bills.