2 UPND OFFICIALS NABBED FOR INCITING VILLAGERS

By JACKSON MAPAPAYI TWO top officials of the United Party for National Development (UPND) in the North-Western Province have been arrested for inciting violence. The two are the provincial chairman, Mr Grandson Katambi, and provincial secretary, Mr Leyard Kalubankwa. According to North-Western Province Commissioner of Police, Joe Njase, the two UPND officials were alleged to have committed the offence while addressing a meeting at Mandandi village in Kabompo. Mr Njase explained that the two with other party officials travelled to Kabompo where they held a meeting at Mandandi village. He said that during the meeting, the officials urged the party members to go early in the morning on August 12 and cast their votes. “They further told their members to go and camp at the totalling centre armed with machetes, catapults, sharpened iron bars and other weapons that might be of use to attack the Electoral officials who will be at the totaling centres should the outcome of the presidential polls go to any other person other than the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema,” Mr Njase explained. Mr Njase said as soon as police officers received the report, they opened the docket of proposing violence and recorded statements from witnesses who attended the meeting. He said that the two UPND officials were summoned and interrogated over the allegations and they admitted to have attended the meeting. “During further interrogation, Mr Kalubankwa admitted that he had urged the party members to go out during the counting period and defend themselves together with their votes,” Mr Njase said. He said the two men are in custody and would appear in court soon.