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Police in Serenje District of Central Province have arrested opposition Socialist Party (SP) president, Fred M’membe, for the offence of Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm.
M’membe aged 64 of Rhodes Park in Lusaka has also been charged with the offence of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm together with two other suspected Socialist Party members.
According to a statement issued by Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Danny Mwale, on Sunday in Lusaka, M’membe and two others are all alleged to have assaulted nine suspected members of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
He said two suspected Socialist Party members also sustained injuries during the violence which occurred when the two political parties clashed while conducting their campaigns at four ways in Mwalilima and Kamalamba area of Serenje District in Central Province on April 8, 2023 between 14:00 hours and 16:30 hours.
Read More:Socialist Party president, M’membe, condemns alleged UPND youth day violence.
Mwale said 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.
Mwale said the Police command has since beefed up security in Serenje District in order to restore and maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, alleged UPND cadres on Saturday are alleged to have attacked M’membe and other members of his political party at a public meeting in Muchinda Ward of Serenje District.
Party Spokesperson Frank Bwalya said information coming from Serenje also indicate that several other officials and residents have been injured in the Saturday fracas and vehicles damaged by the unruly cadres.
Bwalya said M’membe was in Muchinda Ward to drum up support for the Socialist Party candidate Rodwell Kunda ahead of the Local Government By-Election scheduled for 20th April, 2023.
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