By Isaac Zulu
Bowman Lusambo says every political party has got a security wing, when asked about the so-called “NATO forces” who were aligned with his campaign and unleashed violence during the campaigns in Kabushi constituency.
And UPND losing candidate in the Kabushi seat during the 2021 general elections Bernard Kanengo said that had the Patriot Front won, Zambia was going to reach a dead end as political violence and lawlessness became the order of the day in the run up to last year’s general elections, but those that were in government did nothing to arrest the situation.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Lusambo said he was not involved in any form of violence during the elections, the basis pan which the Constitutional Court annulled his election as member of parliament.
But asked on the “NATO forces” who were aligned to his campaign, Lusambo said: “Those are just, each and every party they have a party security. The UPND they were all over. A person died in North Western Province. We saw guns being fired in Mandevu constituency, a person died in Mandevu constituency. We saw a lot of bad violence in Kanyama. Name it.”
He claimed that it was quiet in Kabushi constituency.
“It was very quiet but we know what has happened in Kabushi constituency that’s why we said we have welcomed the decision. We have respected the CONCOURT’s decision because we know that elections are not won in courts. Elections are won in the constituency and on the ground…we remain now with the real work in the constituency,” said Lusambo.
But Kanengo said that, while on a campaign trail, he was beaten to paup and stripped naked by a group of PF members calling itself the “NATO Forces” in Kabushi constituency in August last year, which led to him failing to campaign freely.
“The situation was deteriorating yet the then government did nothing about this. PF cadres became very powerful, engaging in hooliganism and political violence and beating people in public places such as bus stations and markets,” said Kanengo, who was the UPND Kabushi parliamentary candidate in last year’s general elections. “I was a victim of political violence that was being perpetrated by PF members. I was beaten and stripped naked. Bakalamba nashele na boxer short. Had the Patriot Front won the 2021 general elections, Zambia was going to reach a dead end like is the case in Sri Lanka.”
He narrated that he had to walk through the market and sought refuge at a nearby Mosque within Kabushi constituency and, subsequently, stopped campaigning.
He explained that his family members advised him to quit politics, but vowed not to relent.
Kanengo expressed optimism that he will scoop the Kabushi parliamentary seat, “even if Bowman Lusambo was to recontest the seat on the PF ticket.”
He stated that he is not scared of meeting the “bulldozer during campaigns for the forthcoming Kabushi parliamentary by-elections.”
Kanengo was speaking during a special programme on Ndola’s SUN FM Radio on Monday.
