PF caught in a web of lies

Sunday Chanda

The Patriotic Front (PF) has been forced to embarrassingly withdraw a statement in which it accused opposition UPND cadres of killing its member, identified as Teacher Kalaluka, after police issued a statement dispelling the its claims.

Yesterday, PF media director Sunday Chanda issued a statement on behalf of party Secretary General Davies Mwila claiming that Kalaluka had died after being attacked by UPND cadres in Chilanga during last week’s local government by election campaigns..

But police spokesperson Esther Mwaata Katongo says police had received seven reports of assault from various complainants and Kalaluka was not among the seven.

She said only one person among the seven injured identified as Siamutumwa Sikapa, aged 37, was admitted to UTH and is still receiving medical treatment.

“We would like to dispel reports published in some quarters of the media purporting that a member of the Patriotic Front assaulted during the just ended by-election campaigns in Kalundu area in Chilanga has died. The correct position is that during the said by – election, Police received seven reports of Assault OABH from various complainants and Teacher Kalaluka said to have died is not among the complainants. Only one person among the seven injured identified as Siamutumwa Sikapa aged 37 was admitted to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and is still receiving medical treatment. UTH Management through its Public Relations Office has confirmed that the victim’s condition is improving,” said Katongo in a media statement.

Chanda has since retracted his misleading statement and issued an apology, explaining that he was that he was given wrong information by PF provincial officials on the ground and that it has come to his attention that the information was inaccurate.

“Yesterday, 17th September 2017, my Office received information from the Party Provincial Officials to the effect that a PF member who was attacked in Chilanga during the by-election campaigns had passed on. Upon receiving this information, we had it verified with two other Provincial Officials who confirmed the reports. It has come to our attention that the Provincial Officials information was not accurate. The victim is still hospitalised in University Teaching Hospital and remains in our prayers,” stated Chanda.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may have caused on the victim and the bereaved family. Further, we wish to advise our officials to verify information with the Provincial Party Chairperson before transmitting any such information to the Party Secretariat. Lastly, we continue to call for investigations into the violence to ensure the perpetrators of this violence are brought to book”