UPND plot exposed

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has disclosed that he has received reports of some politicians arming their cadres with machetes ahead of the 2016 general elections.
Mr Lungu has also disclosed that he will assent to the amended Constitution as soon as he receives it when he returns to Lusaka.
He said he had received reports about some politicians arming their cadres with machetes ahead of the elections.
The President has since warned opposition political leaders to desist from plotting violence ahead of next year’s tripartite elections.
“I have received information that some politicians in Muchinga are arming cadres with machetes, but I want to say that I will not allow a breakdown of law and order in the country ahead of next year’s elections,” Mr Lungu said.
He was speaking at City Airport in Lusaka shortly before he left for Muchinga Province yesterday.
He wondered what kind of politics or campaigns required weapons such as machetes.
He said he was aware that some people had been paid in Kasama to boo him as he arrives to commission the Pensulo-Kasama grid transmission line.
President Lungu said he was running a democratic Government that promoted dialogue, but that some people were abusing their rights.
On arrival in Kasama, Mr Lungu said he had information that the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) was planning to fuel violence in order to disrupt the 2016 general elections.
“I am requesting UPND to hold it because I have information that they want to cause confusion because they know that they will lose the 2016 general elections,” he said.
Mr Lungu called on Patriotic Front (PF) members to desist from any form of violence and maintain peace.
“Continue mobilising the party and maintain law and order; maintain the love and unity that we have. Do not allow yourselves to be provoked. They know they have lost the game, so they want to blame violence,” he said.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has said that he is ready to assent to the Constitution Amendment Bill of 2015 as soon as he receives it.
Mr Lungu said the people of Zambia wanted a new Constitution, and that the PF Government had given them a Constitution they wanted.
“The people of Zambia wanted the Constitution and we have given them. It is up to them to decide who means well for the country,” he said.
He said it was unfortunate that there were some people that wanted him to hold on to the document and not assent to it.
Mr Lungu said it was sad that despite delivering the Constitution, there were some people that were always negative.