I am not violent, says GBM

“I am not a violent man and I do not spearhead violence during my tours of Northern Province,” former Patriotic Front (PF) Kasama Central Member of Parliament Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba has said.

Mr Mwamba who is popularly known as GBM said yesterday that he was a peaceful person.
He was reacting to Northern Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe who said it was unfortunate that Mr. Mwamba had decided to use arrogance to fight for the seat which was declared vacant by the Speaker of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini.
Mr Sikazwe said it was clear that there was always confusion in the province whenever Mr. Mwamba visited Kasama.
“We don’t want confusion in the province. I am pleading with my colleagues in the UPND to come to the province to convince the people instead of engaging in violence,” he said.
But Mr Mwamba dismissed accusation of him being a violent man.
Speaking in an interview Mr. Mwamba who is also UPND vice president for Administration maintained that his party was not a violent party.
Mr Mwamba said Mr. Sikazwe did not know what he was talking about because everyone knew that PF was a violent party.
“He does not know what he is talking about because PF members are the perpetuators of violence. The PF thugs started honking in town when they heard that I was in Kasama, my people didn’t cause any violence in Kasama, the PF felt bad because they have noticed that I was given a thunderous welcome when I visited Kasama last week,” he said. Mr. Mwamba said it was now clear that PF thugs around the country had been harassing opposition political leaders and wondered why Mr. Sikazwe could accuse him of spearheading violence.
But Mr Sikazwe said the UPND should have an agenda of convincing the people of Northern Province when they visit the province instead of perpetuating violence.
Mr. Sikwazwe said the UPND should understand that no political party could win votes from the people by using force.
“Mr. Mwamba should know that people always react whenever there is political violence and that is not what the PF wants,” he said.
He said the PF in the province would not allow any intimidation from the UPND because they knew that they had to deliver to Zambian’s expectation.
“We are not going to allow any body to intimidate us in the province that one should be taken out. We are a very peaceful group in the province and violence only erupts when GBM visits the province,” Mr. Sikazwe said.
“The problem is that GBM thinks that using youths to perpetuate violence is an indication that he is popular, that is not popularity,” he said. – Courtesy of Millennium Radio