Police warn GBM!
“Panga for panga statement earns GBM police warning”
THE police have warned Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, the UPND vice president that they will have no option but to arrest him if he continues inciting party members to cause havoc during elections in Chilanga.
Mr Mwamba, popularly known as GBM, is reported to have told UPND supporters in Chilanga to fight back if attacked by opponents during campaigns, “Panga for Panga.”
Zambia Police Service, spokesperson Esther Katongo however said that if it was true that the statement came from Mr Mwamba, a respected leader of a political party who should be preaching peace, then it was very unfortunate.
Ms Katongo told the Daily Nation that the statement was clearly inciting other members to cause havoc during by-elections in Chilanga.
She warned that in as much as the police had been restraining themselves from apprehending people during elections for uttering such statements, they would have no option but to effect arrests if pushed to the wall.
“We don't want to take a confrontational stance in elections and be accused of de-campaigning some political parties but when pushed against the wall we will have no option but to act,” said Ms Katongo.
Ms Katongo said it was an offence for any cadre or member to go armed in public and during meetings.
She called upon all those involved in the elections to take heed of what the law provided or face the consequences.
Ms Katongo said that officers camping in area were there would elections had been directed to conduct on the spot checks of motor vehicles suspected to be carrying offensive weapons, with a stern warning that those found wanting would not be spared.
“What people should know is that when you are arrested, you are arrested alone and not as a political party, neither will you see political leaders or their children moving with pangas. Therefore it will be you alone to answer to charges,” she said.
Meanwhile, Ms Katongo disowned an article trending on social media suggesting that Police officers deployed in Chilanga had told the UPND that they should defend themselves as police officers were scared of losing their jobs if they protected the opposition party.
She reiterated that it was mere propaganda by the authors whose motive was to cause confusion during the process of the by - election in the area, adding that no sane officer could state as alleged.
Ms Katongo warned people behind such writings should desist forthwith as such careless statements were likely to incite political players to take the law into their own hands and ultimately cause anarchy.