UPND official in Court for disrupting Agro Show

A United Party for National Development (UPND) official has appeared in court for disrupting proceedings of the block agricultural show in Mbila ward in Chief Shezongo’s area in Itezhi Tezhi district.

The 29-year-old Jacob Mubambo, who was arrested on Friday last week, pleaded not guilty before Itezhi Tezhi magistrate,Munalula Mubita yesterday.

Mubambo is alleged to have led a group of UPND cadres who hijacked the show proceedings and allegedly turned the government activity into a political rally.

Mubambo of Dambwa in Livingstone, who is aspiring UPND candidate for Itezhi Tezhi Constituency, is charged with disorderly conduct likely to cause breach of peace contrary to Section 178F of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

It is alleged that Mubambo on June 6, 2014 in Itezhi Tezhi at Itezhi, conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace.

On Friday last week, UPND cadres hijacked the Agricultural Block Show in Mbila area and turned it into a political rally.

The opposition cadres disturbed the whole function to the extent that only two exhibitors showed up and the rest were opposition UPND cadres who were dressed in political regalia.

The opposition political party cadres openly distributed UPND political fliers and were heard shouting ant-PF political slogans to the annoyance of Home affairs Deputy Minister, Nixon Chilangwa, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Greyford Monde, who graced the agricultural shows in Mbila.

Despite Mbila area having the largest population of farmers and exhibitors, only two exhibitors were present.

And area Member of Parliament, Greyford Monde, has expressed disappointment at the incident in Mbila ward, saying it was unheard of for opposition political parties to high jack a government activity in the manner they did.

He threatened to recommend for the disbanding of the agricultural show if such behaviour by cadres repeats itself in the remaining block shows.