UPND FACTIONS’ FRACAS LEAVES PF MEMBER HOSPITALISED

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Chimwemwe Constituency youth chairman Bernard Ngoma was on Saturday afternoon rushed to Kitwe Teaching Hospital (KTH) with multiple injuries, while some residents were sent scampering for safety after they were caught up in a fracas involving two UPND cadres who were fighting over money realised from the sale of chrome gotten from the Black Mountain in Kitwe

Mr Ngoma was caught up in the fracas when he was mistaken to be getting videos of the fracas involving the factions from the ruling party where President Hakainde Hichilema has been speaking against violence and caderism which to some people, is the reason which led to the PF being voted out of government

During the fracas, some Chimwemwe residents were sent scampering for safety while some shops like Shoprite, Choppies were forced to close after 10:00 hours for fear of the shops being looted by residents who could have taken advantage of the situation

Speaking before he was treated and discharged, Mr Ngoma said he was caught up in the fracas as he was going to church after he was mistaken to be getting videos of the fracas.

“I really don’t know what the fracas was about but I was going to church when I was caught in the fracas after I was mistaken to be getting videos of the same. fracas. I just heard people saying Uyo alekopa meaning that one is getting videos. From that, bottles rained on me and I was rushed to hospital. Am feeling much better but am told there’s an audio which has gone viral where a suspected UPND cadre is bragging that they had hit me hard and am in pain” Mr Ngoma said

When contacted for a comment, Copperbelt Police Commissioner Peacewell Mweemba said he had not received the report of the fracas involving the two factions of the UPND cadres

But some witnesses identified as Idah Mukwasa, Gwen Sibongile, Charles Mufwambi and George Munalula said during the clash between the two UPND factions, some people scampered for safety with some people seeking refugee into Choppies forcing the owners of the shop to close

Shoprite, Choppies and After Ten were all. Closed as people were scampering in different directions for safety and fearing that they may be caught up in the clash.