Patriotic Front Secretary General Davies Mwila says the gutting of Lusaka City Market has been received with great distress by the ruling party.

According to a statement issued by PF Media Director Sunday Chanda, Mwila said if it was an act of sabotage, strict sanctions should be imposed on those involved and if it is a Zesco fault, accountability should be demanded.

“The news of the gutting of City Market has been received with great distress by the PF. The importance of the Market can never be overstated as it serves many Zambians from all walks of life. We stand with the people that have lost property and hope that security agencies will act swiftly to investigate this matter. We are a Party for the poor and so we feel the pain of their loss. If it is sabotage, we demand for stiff sanctions and if it be an electric fault, still we ask for accountability from those tasked to manage the facility, “Mwila said.

Mwila called for calm among the members of the public as various national security wings were on the matter to establish what caused the fire which had consumed goods worth millions of Kwacha.

“PF urges those that have lost property in the fires as well as the public to stay calm and avoid any unnecessary provocation from those whose mockery seeks to dilute the impact of this unfortunate event. Let us all cooperate with the various national security wings that are currently working around the clock to find out the origin of the blaze,” said Mwila.

“As the PF, we will not be distracted from our vision of meaningful development for all Zambians by a few sadistic elements that have nothing but terror and division to offer to a peace loving and united Zambia.”