Two UPND cadres in Livingstone arrested for suspected abduction and assault

Two UPND cadres in Livingstone arrested for suspected abduction and assault

Livingstone, March 14, 2013 ZANIS———Two UPND cadres have been arrested by police in Livingstone for allegedly abducting and assaulting a PF Stream Chairman for Dambwa Site and Service.

Southern Province Police Commissioner Charity Katanga confirmed the development to journalists during a press briefing held at her office today.

Mrs Katanga said Cephas Bbuku, 45 of house number 6564 Olympia Park in Lusaka and Taphen Mulongo 45 of house number A66/6 Shikoswe in Kafue were today arrested and detained for abducting and assaulting Gibson Limbambala, a PF cadre and occasioning actual bodily harm.

She said the two suspects identified themselves as UPND Monitors for the parliamentary by election taking place in Livingstone today.

Mrs. Katanga said Limbambala who was allegedly assaulted by the two suspects sustained a swollen face and a painful lower abdomen.

She explained that Limbambala was in Dambwa Site and Service near ‘God Knows‘ area when he observed people in a grey Toyota Prado, with registration number ALH 6680 distributing money, voters cards and National Registration Cards (NRCs).

Limbambala then reported the matter to police officer at Zambezi Community School Polling Station and later photographed the people who were engaging in electoral malpractices.              

Mrs. Katanga however, said Limbambala was called by Bbuku and Mulongo who were in a grey Toyota Corsa registration number ALE 3927 who then pushed him in the car, grabbed his phone and beat him up while they drove to unknown destination.

She said the vehicle was pursued at high speed and one of the suspects jumped from the moving car at Zimbabwe Market and disappeared.

Mrs. Katanga has since called on the owner of the grey Toyota Prado, registration number ALH 6680 to report to the police before being cornered by the authorities.

Meanwhile, Canaan Kabunda, a UPND cadre who was found changing tires of the Toyota Corsa registration number ALE 3927 outside Livingstone Central Police Station said the UPND suspects detained in custody had apprehended a PF cadre and were taking him to the police station to report him for engaging in electoral malpractices.

Kabunda who claimed to be an eyewitness said after apprehending Limbambala, PF cadres pursued them and upon reaching Livingstone Central Police station, they beat up the UPND cadres in full view of police officers.

He said it was at this point that Bbuku and Mulongo were charged with abduction and assault occasion actual bodily harm.

The Livingstone Parliamentary by election had since morning been incident free until this report of violence.

It has however, been characterized with low turnout of voters in most polling stations.

Four political parties are contesting the parliamentary seat which fell vacant after former Member of Parliament Howard Sikwela resigned.

MMD are fielding Fred Siasuntwe while PF is represented by Lawrence Evans and Regina Musokotwane stood on the UPND ticket while Green Mwanag’ombe is the UNIP candidate.