We’ve not engaged any mercenaries - UPND

WE do not have any mercenaries to help us win the elections as alleged by people who want to dent the image of the party, UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma has said.

Mr Kakoma said it was saddening that some individuals had continued to spread lies against the UPND now that the country was going towards general elections which were very crucial for all political parties.

He said in an interview yesterday that the UPND had nothing to do with the white PR consultants that had been involved in militant insurgents from Ditchley Foundation in the United Kingdom.

Mr Kakoma said the UPND had not at any time engaged the team of consultants in question. He said those spreading lies must provide evidence to the public.

It has been alleged that the UPND white PR team of consultants were in panic mode after links to militant insurgents from Ditchley Foundation in UK were exposed.

The party had been accused of working with James Arroyo who runs the secretive militant British Ditchley Foundation.

It is alleged that Mr Arroyo who is also former M16 spy had been blacklisted by many countries for clandestine operations.

The UPND has been asked to explain what Henry Sands from the UK has been doing at Hichilema’s house almost every day.

It is alleged that Mr Hichilema’s main team of PR strategists are made up of all-white consultants, among them Mr Arroyo who is also former M16 spy, blacklisted by many countries for clandestine operations.

It is further alleged that Mr Arroyo assigned Henry Sands who is the founder of Sabi Strategy Group, a London-based political campaign firm to be Mr Hichilema’s digital marketing campaign manager, also Ian Baharie, director of the CTF, a subsidiary of C/T Group, is another UK campaign consultancy working for Mr Hichilema.

But Mr Kakoma distanced the party from individuals involved in illicit activities.

“I don’t know why people always want to talk ill of the party especially when we are going towards elections. Let those who have evidence about this matter make it available to the public so that the people of Zambia can know the truth.

“People have been saying that we have engaged foreign mercenaries, this is unacceptable because they always want to throw mud on us,” Mr Kakoma said.