By Isaac Zulu
Zambia Police deputy public relations officer Danny Mwale has dispelled assertions that the Service has been applying the law unfairly in the run up to the Muchindu ward by-election in Serenje.
In an interview, Mwale said that it is not true that only some Socialist Party leaders, including party leader Dr Fred M’membe, were arrested in the fracas that occurred between the two political parties.
He said that, contrary to the assertions that only Socialist Party members were arrested for allegedly engaging in some electoral violence, which largely viewed as the unfair application of the law; the Zambia Police Command in Central Province has also charged and arrested one UPND member only identified as a Mr Kamfwa.
“It is not true for anyone to make assertions that the Zambia Police Command is being selective and applying the law unfairly to political parties participating in some local government by-elections,” Mwale said. “We acknowledge that some Socialist Party senior party officials were involved and arrested in the Serenje electoral violence. But some suspected UPND members who were allegedly involved in the assault of a Serenje Community Radio reporter and the clash that transpired between the UPND and the Socialist Party. However, I want to make it categorically clear that it is not true that the arrests that have been made so far are from the Socialist Party. We have also arrested a UPND members that were involved in the same political fracas. This only goes to show that the Zambia Police has not been applying the law unfairly in the run up to the by-elections.”
He said that the Zambia Police Command will not protect any political players who engage in electoral violence, regardless of their political affiliation.
Earlier, Central Province Police Commissioner David Chileshe Mukuka could not comment on the matter, referring all queries to Zambia Police Deputy public relations officer Danny Mwale.
