‘UPND’ cadres attack Vice President’s Nalolo home

Suspected opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres yesterday attacked and destroyed property at Vice President Inonge Wina’s private residence in Muoyo area of Nalolo district in Western Province.

Vice President Inonge Wina said in Lusaka on Sunday November 22nd that the cadres, who were seen by everybody who was present, attacked and beat up her relatives who were found at her private home in Nalolo constituency.

Mrs. Wina expressed disappointment that the cadres had the audacity to attack her relatives noting that they were targeting her sister who was however away from home at the time of the attack.

“If they want to attack, let them attack me here in Lusaka,” she said.

Ms. Wina explained that the cadres vented their anger by attacking people that were at the home and broke window panes.

She said this happened when UPND president Hakainde Hichilema was in the area about to pay a courtesy call on Litunga Lamboela in Nalolo.

But when contacted for a comment, UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma expressed ignorance on the matter saying he had not yet received any information to that effect.

And efforts to contact Mr. Hichilema, his two vice presidents Geoffrey Mwamba and Canicius Banda proved futile as all their phones went unanswered.

Meanwhile, stakeholders have roundly condemned the political violence urging law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the violence and bring culprits to book.

Meanwhile, some civil society organisations have condemned the behaviour of suspected UPND cadres that attacked Mrs. Wina’s home.

Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue (ZCID) Executive Director, Horrance Chilando condemned the violence and appealed to political parties to co-exist.

Mr. Chilando said the violence is a draw back because last week, the centre conducted a workshop for political parties on how to conduct themselves when interfacing.

He has since called on all political parties to adhere to the provisions of the ZCID code of conduct and ethics which they signed in 2010.

Mr. Chilando further called on political parties to also follow the provisions of the Public Order Act in order to maintain peace at all times.

And speaking in a separate interview, Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) Executive Director Pukuta Mwanza implored political parties to respect divergent views and desist from using coercion to win political support.

Reverend Mwanza said the attack of Vice President’s private residence sends a wrong signal considering that Zambia will hold its tripartite elections in 2016.

He noted that peace should prevail so that Zambians can freely choose their leaders without being coerced through violence.

“The news is very unfortunate because we are dealing with the V.P of this country and political cadres must not go to this extent of trading violence to this degree and we have been condemning violence to any extent among cadres of various parties,” he said.

Rev. Mwanza has since called on the police and other law enforcement agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter in order to curb the violence.

He explained that political violence cannot be allowed to go on uncontrollably in a bid to ensure that political campaigns in 2016 are held in a conducive and peaceful environment.

Rev. Mwanza also implored leaders from both the ruling and opposition political parties to disown violent cadres.

And Jesuits Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Director, Leonard Chiti asked political party leaders and well-meaning Zambians to embrace President Edgar Lungu’s reconciliation calls.

Father Chiti said Zambians should embrace calls for national unity regardless of their political and religious affiliations in order to preserve the peace that the country has enjoyed since 1964.