PF cadres ‘stoned’
By NATION REPORTER SOME Patriotic Front (PF) members were yesterday attacked by suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres in Mushindamo’s Kangwena ward where there are campaigns for local government by-elections.
This is barely a week after Vice president Inonge Wina called for an end to political violence ahead of the by-elections in various parts of the country.
The incident happened around 19:00 hours when the PF members were stoned at their camp at Kamilulu area.
One of the PF cadres, Jonas Kayebeta said that their assailants attacked them whilst they were at their camp preparing supper.
‘‘We were at the camp preparing some food when we just saw stones coming from different directions being thrown on us,’’ he said.
He disclosed that one of his colleague was hit by a stone on the left side of the ribs and fell on the ground.
And PF constituency chairlady Jane Chikola said in Mushingwa area, the UPND have set up a camp along the Solwezi- Chingola Road where they are allegedly stoning suspected PF members,
‘‘What they are doing is that whoever they see putting on PF regalia, they are being stoned using catapults,’’ she said.
PF campaign manager Martin Mbaya has condemned the violent acts.
Mr Mbaya has attributed the UPND’s resort to violence to anxiety and panic as people in the area have lost confidence in the party.
He said the opposition has lost popularity in the area due to their inability to deliver on their campaign promises in the area.
He further mentioned that the opposition leadership has reached an extent of deploying over six Members of Parliament from various constituencies to come and drum up support for their candidate.
“It is clear that people of North Western Province and Kangwena in particular have lost interest and confidence in the opposition UPND as evidenced by the mass defections of UPND members to PF,’’ he said.
He reiterated that the PF was ready to scoop the Kangwena by elections slated for tomorrow.
He urged the opposition to own up and do a clean and violence free campaign.
“As PF we will not resort to violence at any given time.” he added.