REMOVE OFFENSIVE WEAPONS FROM SHOPS

By SIMON MUNTEMATHE offensive weapons such as machetes, military knives and pangas must be removed from shops and markets to ensure violent political cadres have no access to them, the Patriotic Front (PF) has suggested. PF deputy media director Edwin Lifwekelo has also appealed to the security wings to conduct random clean-ups in hotspots of Lusaka like Chibolya, Kanyama, Matero and Mandevu compounds. Mr Lifwekelo said anyone found selling the offensive weapons should be prosecuted and made to account.He said in an interview that the measures would deter future barbaric killings by political cadres.“We want to appeal to Government to clamp down and remove all offensive weapons from the market with immediate effect to deter future barbaric killings by political cadres.“Offensive weapons like machetes, military knives, axes, and pangas must be removed from shops and markets and anyone found selling these offensive weapons once a directive is enforced should be prosecuted,” Mr Lifwekelo said.He said the continued barbaric attacks and gruesome murder of PF members in Lusaka and other parts of the country by suspected UPND cadres should be condemned without reservation.“We recognise as a party that indeed the Zambia Police Service are overwhelmed with UPND destruction of property and killings that they have deployed as a way of intimidating and causing fear among the electorates prior to the August 12 polls,” he said.Mr Lifwekelo said it was sad that the UPND under Mr Hakainde Hichilema had chosen to deploy the “mapatizya” formula to cause mayhem.He urged PF members to conduct peaceful campaigns.