Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
There was chaos in the central business district of Lusaka this afternoon when machete wielding cadres supporting rival Patriotic Front presidents Edgar Lungu and Miles Sampa clashed sending members of the general public scampering for safety.
Business along Cairo, Lumumba, Chachacha Roads and Freedom Way came to stand still as shop owners closed their shops for fear of the rampaging cadres.
A check by a QFM News crew that rushed into town found most people watching in a seemingly state of shock as the machete wielding cadres took over the roads in the central business district.
The cadres smashed the windows of a taxi belonging to Metro Cab an initiative of Mr Sampa to empower youths in his constituency.
Quick action by alert Police officers prevented the Metro Cab Taxi from being set ablaze.
And Police Spokesperson Charity Munganga-Chanda says the situation has returned to normal and Police officers are still on the ground patrolling the area.
Ms. Chanda has however appealed to political parties to desist from involving themselves in activities that endanger the lives of the people in the country.
She says the Police is still urging all those wanting to hold public processions, demonstrations or meetings to abide by the provisions of the Public Order Act.
Meanwhile Davis Chama the PF Secretary General appointed by one of the two PF Presidents Edgar Lungu has condemned the violence by PF cadres.
Mr Chama says a group of youths coming from yesterday’s general conference which saw the election of Mr Sampa as PF president caused the confusion in town.
He says the PF abhors all forms of violence regardless of who the perpetrators are.
Mr Chama says the party regrets that along the way, property has been damaged, and has called on the Police to get to the bottom of the incident and bring the culprits to book as soon as possible.
He says PF President Edgar Lungu who is also the Minister of Defence and
Justice is a man well known for nothing but peace.
And Political Activist Dante Saunders has told QFM News in an interview that there is no need to keeping people in government who cannot control their own cadres.
Mr. Saunders says Zambians should accept that they made a mistake to entrust the PF with power when voted in 2011.
He says Zambians have an opportunity to vote the PF out of power in the forthcoming presidential election.