Socialist Party (SP) leader Dr Fred M’membe says the UPND cadres who committed violence are not being questioned but he being the victim is being turned into an attacker.
But police have said Dr M’membe was arrested for unlawfully discharging a firearm.
Dr M’membe, in a tweet complained that the UPND attackers are being let to go scot-free.
“The UPND cadres who attacked us have not been arrested; they are not in anyway being questioned. We, the victims, are the ones who are being turned into the attackers. This is the situation we are in,” mourned Dr M’membe.
But police deputy spokesperson Danny Mwale said Dr M’membe was arrested following the incident which occurred yesterday between 14:00 hours and 16:30 hours.
“Police in Serenje District have arrested Socialist Party president Fred Mmembe for the offence of Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm.Dr Mmembe aged 64 of Rhodes Park in Lusaka has also been charged with the offence of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (OABH) together with two other suspected Socialist Party members,” he said.
He said the two suspected Socialist Party members also sustained injuries during the violence which occurred when the two political parties clashed while conducting their campaigns.
“All the suspects are detained in Police custody waiting to be formally charged while a manhunt has been launched for the suspected UPND members who fled the scene after assaulting the other two victims. We call upon all political parties participating in the by-election in Serenje to exercise maximum restraint in order for the election to be peaceful,” he said.
Mr Mwale added that security has since been beefed up in Serenje District in order to restore and maintain law and order.
But Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba tweeted that there was information about attempts to cancel the by-elections by the ruling party and warned the Electoral Commission not to be used in this attempt.
