The police command has now confirmed that it was a Patriotic Front supporter who shot dead a UPND cadre in Kaoma yesterday, contrary to an earlier statement issued by Western Province Police Commissioner.

In an interview, Sunday, Western Province police commissioner Charles Lungu said police had nabbed a UPND cadre who shot indiscriminately and injured two people, one of them his fellow opposition party member.

“It was around midday in Site and Service Compound where two convoys were on their usual campaign trails, they were kind of criss crossing from opposite directions near the PF camp. So the convoy for UPND stopped and challenged their counterparts. So there was commotion there and pandemonium and in the process, one UPND cadre produced a pistol and fired shots in discriminately and in the process shot two people. Then the other two were injured during beatings. These were all rushed to hospital, two were certified to have bullet wounds. The other two it was mere beatings. Officers made followups and apprehended one UPND cadre by the name of Chola Simwaba and recovered from him a pistol which he had used to fire so right now he is in police custody being interrogated,” narrated Lungu.

“Among those shot was a UPND cadre. Incidentally, during the indiscriminate shootings, he also shot one of his friends from the same party because there was commotion and pandemonium so one bullet landed on a UPND cadre. Police responded by giving chase to the ones who were running away with a pistol and apprehended him, there was no firing by police. By press time, all four are still in hospital.”

But in a statement, Monday, police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo narrated that the gunshot which killed a UPND cadre popularly known as Gadhafi came from a white Toyota Hilux belonging to the ruling party camp.

“Yesterday, 06th October, 2019, as Police Officers were attending a briefing at Kaoma Trades School organized by the Electoral Commission of Zambia, they received information from concerned citizens that there were some gunshots heard and immediately officers were dispatched to verify the information.
It then came to the attention of the officers that supporters of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and those of the Patriotic Front had clashed in Site and Service area in Kaoma. When officers reached the scene, they found a man in his 40s laying on the ground in a pool of blood, with a lady’s handbag by his side. Officers picked him and rushed him to Kaoma District Hospital for medical attention but later died in the process of evacuating him to UTH,” Katongo stated.

“Initial investigations revealed that suspected UPND cadres who were on a UPND branded motor vehicle had attacked people believed to be Patriotic Front cadres who were in a white Toyota Hilux using stones which led to the one of the occupants identified as female Namataa Lubasi Brumo aged 51 of Yeta Compound also a District PF Chairlady of Mongu to jump off the motor vehicle in an attempt to run to safety. It was reported that Namataa was followed by unknown suspected UPND cadre only identified by his nickname Gadhafi who gave chase and grabbed her hand bag but Namataa managed to run to safety. It is alleged that one occupant on a white Toyota Hilux pulled out a pistol and shot at Gadhafi who died in the process of evacuation to UTH.”

And Katongo stated that in a separate incident, UPND District Youth Chairperson for Kaoma Chola Simwawa fired at some PF supporters who were pursuing him and injured one in the process.

She stated that Simwawa was in police custody.

“In a separate incidence, two motor vehicles suspected to be carrying Patriotic Front cadres are alleged to have been pursuing a UPND District Youth Chairperson for Kaoma identified as Chola Simwawa aged 38 of Falkland, Kaoma who was riding a motor Bike in Site and Service area. In the process of running to safety, he decided to run into someone’s yard and the motor bike hit into a tree and he fell to the ground. He is alleged to have pulled out a gun (pistol) and fired at the suspected Patriotic Front cadres reported to have been pursuing him and injured one identified as Gift Simangolwa who sustained a bullet wound on the right thigh and right arm. He has been evacuated to UTH. Chola Simwawa is currently detained in Police custody and a pistol with three rounds of ammunition recovered,” Katongo stated.

Meanwhile, Katongo also stated that some UPND cadres had injured several PF supporters.

“Another report was received in which Mbololwa Nayoya aged 51 of Mongu, a suspected member of the Patriotic Front also of Kapolota Village in Chief Mushemi of Senanga District was assaulted by suspected UPND members and sustained a deep cut on the left side of the head and general body pains as a plank is alleged to have been used in the act and in the same fracas a PF Toyota Hilux had its wind screen shattered. This occurred yesterday 06th October, 2019 at about 11:00 hours when members of the Patriotic Front were issuing out some campaign material and some food stuffs to their members and this raised suspicions among the UPND who suspected them to have been buying votes,” stated Katongo.

“In the same fracas, a male adult identified as Joseph Muzaza of Mulambwa Compound in Kaoma believed to be a Patriotic Front cadre was also assaulted and sustained a deep cut on the left leg. No arrest has been made in this case however investigations have been instituted.”

She stated that investigations had been instituted in all of these incidents.

“Investigations in this matter have continued to bring all perpetrators of the violence to book. Calm has returned in Kaoma as patrols have been intensified in all hotspots. Investigations in all the reported incidences of violence have continued with a view of bringing perpetrators to book. We reiterate the earlier call by the Inspector General of Police that all leaders of campaign teams for all Political Parties taking part in the Kaoma by – election should take up responsibility of ensuring that their cadres avoid any form of violence,” stated Katongo.