HOME Affairs Permanent Secretary Dickson Matembo has wondered what government would benefit from killing NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile and running mate Makebi Zulu.

Meanwhile, Southern Province Police Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo has refuted claims by Mundubile that Southern Province was weaponised with police and snipers.

On Monday, during a Southern Province virtual rally, Mundubile said his party avoided violence by not going to their scheduled campaign in Southern province, while Makebi said UPND’s intention was to declare a national disaster and cancel the election due to violence.

Asked in an interview about claims that police were sent to kill Mundubile and Makebi in Southern Province, Matembo challenged the duo to prove which police officers wanted to kill them.

“Where is it coming from? Let them prove. Let them have a press conference to show to the world that there is this programme of government wanting to kill them or this police officer wants to kill them. I don’t think in the last five years, the President has been in power, there have been people who have been killed in the way it used to happen in the past. They are not even being blocked to do their campaigns. The government is aware of the plans that they have been having to cause confusion to give the impression that government is trying to block them from campaigning. Of course in every situation, there are pockets of excited people who want to cause confusion. But we have contained that and the President has put it in black and white. So what benefit does it have to government to have them killed?” he asked

“Whether you are red, blue, black, whatever color, if you are caught in violence, you are on your own. That’s why you have seen that there is no violence among us cadres. There is no violence amongst us ordinary Zambians. What is being encouraged is that people should be able to debate, to argue. But if you lay a finger on your friends, then you have crossed the boundaries and you are on your own. There is no such a plan. This is just propaganda. Why should they be killed? What would benefit the Zambians? What would benefit the government to have our citizens killed? No. It’s the previous regime that used to kill citizens for their own benefit, which benefit is not known to anyone, including yourself. So the campaigns are peaceful and anyone who is planning to bring confusion and violence to give it as a reason, no, we are not going to allow that,” he said.

Matembo hs since challenged opposition to report illegalities to the police.

“We are not going to allow that. Where are those snipers? Let them prove, let them show those snipers to the world. If there is a document that they have come across that is suggesting that the police have illegalities, let them report, unlike making very fake accusations, let them expose it. Let them expose, not just talking. So that is not healthy for the nation. Yes, the government has tried at all costs to provide protection and security to every citizen. But some of the things that are being proposed or alleged, it should be there to see it for yourself,” said Matembo.

Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Namalongo has refuted claims by Mundubile that Southern Province was weaponised with police and snipers.

He said the police were actually disappointed that NRPUP did not go to campaign in Southern Province.

“We have no such weapons, no special weapon and in fact, we were ready to give them maximum protection. We are just disappointed that they did not come, we are disappointed that they have not come, because we are ready to help them in terms of protecting them so that their rallies go seamlessly without any violence at all, and all the people that are from the ruling party were informed not to disturb these people’s rallies in this province. We are surprised that they are not coming up to today. So there is nothing like we weaponised anyone around here or having organized snipers. There is no such a thing. Here, we are not that kind of police. We really want to protect everyone, including the opposition. That is our stance,” said Namalongo.

Meanwhile, Livingstone UPND District Chairperson Christopher Siamwenya said police told the UPND not to disturb Mundubile team during campaigns.

“We quarantined our members in our various command posts on Saturday August 8 when they should have first come and we did that even on Sunday, until we heard that they [NRPUP] are not coming. Let them not blame the police or UPND,” said Siamwenya.