Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The ruling PF has learnt with sadness the violent disruption of an opposition UPND meeting that was scheduled to take place yesterday Friday the 2nd of January in Shiwan’gandu Constituency of Chinsali District.
The meeting that was disrupted by unknown people was to be attended by UPND senior officials led by Former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa, former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mutale Nalumango, Lubansenshi Independent Member of Parliament Patrick Mucheleka and Lunte Member of Parliament Felix Mutati.
The Police is said to have quickly restored law, peace and order after which the meeting is said to have been allowed to proceed besides the Police being urged strongly to establish who caused this violence and bring the culprits of the violence to book.
Harry Kalaba
In a statement released to Qfm News PF Media and Publicity Committee spokesperson Harry Kalaba says initial reports indicate that the opposition UPND had earlier transported into Chinsali an advance team they claim was security and that this action is what seemed to have provoked the running battles from both camps.
Mr. Mr. Kalaba who is also Foreign Affairs Minister states that it is for this that his party the ruling PF will conduct its own internal investigation to establish what happened and who is behind these acts of violence.
He says if any member or leader of the party will be found to have been involved in disrupting the said meeting, they will be dealt with.
The PF Media and Publicity Committee spokesperson however notes that his party is aware that they are schemes by adversaries and enemies of the ruling PF who are determined to show that the ruling party is a violent party when in fact not.
He says the ruling PF wants to establish who imported this violence in the serene and peaceful environment of Chinsali District especially the said meeting was small and therefore did not pause any political threat to anyone.
Maureen Mwanawasa
Mr. Kalaba states that for the fact the truth is yet to be established the ruling PF dismisses with contempt remarks attributed to Ms. Mwanawasa and her entire team making claims that Zambia is a failed State because of this isolated incident.
He says her remarks are irresponsible and dangerous to the peace of the country.
And Mr. Kalaba has disclosed that his party has also established beyond reasonable doubt that there is a serious ethical breach occurring at MUVI TV where the station has allegedly sold itself to the UPND as evidenced in its news bulletins.
He says the ruling PF has come to the understanding that the wide commercial coverage the opposition UPND is receiving on the local TV station but allegedly masquerading as news is fully paid for and is beyond normal courtesies extended to media institutions or given to its reporters.
Mr. Kalaba says his party is of the view that this is a serious breach of Electoral laws and regulations besides it being a breach of media ethics as news is sacred and cannot be bought in the manner the TV station and the opposition political party has allegedly done.
He says to this effect this matter has already been brought before the ruling party’s Legal Committee for immediate litigation and that the party’s Secretary General Davies Chama will also render an official complaint to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to alert them of this alleged serious breach of the law.