NDC chief shoots to scare cadres
By LINDA SOKO TEMBO and CHIKUMBI KATEBE ERIC Chanda yesterday opened fired in an attempt to scare away suspected Patriotic Front cadres who had allegedly damaged vehicles at the 5FM studios where the National Democratic Congress (NDC) spokesperson had gone for a radio Programme.
Suspected Patriotic Front (PF) cadres yesterday waylaid and damaged vehicles belonging to NDC party secretary general Mwenya Musenge and Mr Chanda at the 5FM radio premises.
Mr Chanda fired four shots in the air to disperse the cadres.
He told the Daily Nation that he was disappointed with the attacks from people whom he suspected to be Patriotic Front (PF) cadres who had stormed the private radio station and damaged property including vehicles and windows.
He said in an interview that the opposition NDC went to the radio for a programme when they were attacked by the cadres who had all sorts of weapons and who damaged his car and that of Mr. Musenge.
“It was so bad that we had no option but to call the police. The most disappointing thing is that the police didn’t show up on time, and I had to fire four shots that is when the cowards ran away,” he said.
Mr. Chanda said as a party they were disappointed because the violence experienced yesterday was not what Zambians were known for.
He said if the cadres wanted to fight NDC, the opposition party was well equipped with enough weapons to hit back but that was not the culture of Zambians as a people.
“We believe in having a peaceful country that is why we want to share ideas with 5FM and other media institutions but it seems they (PF) want to stop us. Why?
And Lusaka police commissioner Nelson Phiri confirmed receipt of a complaint of damage to property at 5FM Radio station located along Kabelenga road yesterday.
Mr Phiri said Johnson Phiri, station manager at 5FM reported that some people who alighted from buses and other vehicles arrived at the premises and damaged vehicles and window panes to the building.
He explained that according to the report, the gunshots were fired by those who came in buses and cars to the 5FM premises.
And Mr Phiri said among the damaged vehicles, a Toyota Prado belonged to Mr Mwenya Musenge, Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to Mr Eric Chanda president of 4th Revolution party, and a Toyota Corolla owned by Mr Kapemba and another Corolla belonging to Mr Ndeketeya Saviour,” he said.
On Mr Chanda’s brandishing of a gun outside 5FM, Mr Phiri said they were not aware of the presence of the gun at the scene of the crime and that police would investigate it.
Meanwhile, the PF has distanced the ruling party from the retrogressive acts at 5FM radio.
PF media director Sunday Chanda condemned the attacks on NDC Secretary General Mwenya Musenge and others as well as the damage to the vehicles describing it as most unfortunate and called on the police to thoroughly investigate the criminal act.
“The Party Secretariat was a hive of activity as we received former Matero MP Miles Sampa and others back into the Party and at no point was any member given any directive to cause any form of disturbance anywhere”.