The United Party for National Development (UPND) has dissociated itself from the killing of Western Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta’s cook, who has been murdered in Livingstone.
UPND campaign manager and Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament, Garry Nkombo, says the incidence is regrettable but that his party has got nothing to do with the killing of Johan Lyakoka.
Mr Nkombo says it was also wrong for Mr Mwaliteta to make assumptions and accusations that the UPND has brought youth from Lusaka into Livingstone.
Mr Nkombo said he understands that the death of Mr Mwaliteta’s servant was an emotional affair but that Mr Mwaliteta should allow the police to investigate instead of accusing the UPND.
“It’s a regrettable incident to see a life being lost in unclear circumstances of that nature, but Mr Mwaliteta should not make assumptions and accusations to link the UPND to that,” he said.
“I understand it is an emotional affair but it’s also wrong to say we (UPND) brought in youths from Miles Sampa’s Constituency into Livingstone,” Mr Nkombo said.
“Look, the only person who came from outside Livingstone is only me the campaign manager and not anyone else,” he said.
He said it was wrong the PF campaign manager to link the UPND to the murder case because that was a wild insinuation which also violates the electoral code of conduct.
Mr Nkombo advised Mr Mwaliteta not to make accusations and conclusions that the UPND has ferried youths from Lusaka in order to bring confusion in Livingstone.
Mr Nkombo said that if Mr Mwaliteta knows where the same youths are camped, then he should take the police there.
“Mr Mwaliteta should not make accusations and conclusions that the UPND has ferried youths from Lusaka to Livingstone to instill fear in the PF. That is it not correct,” he said.
However, Mr Nkombo demanded that the perpetrator of the murder case be
brought to book.
He said that it was the intention of the UPND to see the elections being free and fair without any violence of any type.
Mr Nkombo, who also sent a message for condolences to Mr Mwaliteta, said it was the hope of the UPND to see the law take its course, adding that the bereaved family should wait for the final report from the medical practitioners to ascertain the cause of death.
Johan Lyakoka 19, a cook for Mr Mwaliteta was murdered in Livingstone in unknown circumstances, the incident which many PF members suspect to be the infamous Mapatizya fomular which is mainly associated with the UPND.
The body of Lyakoka was found on Saturday morning lying on the tarmac along the Lusaka road opposite Crossroad Lodge a few meters away from where the deceased and his colleagues were sleeping.