Sata didn’t beat MMD cadre, says Lubinda

Sata didn’t beat MMD cadre, says Lubinda
Written by Noel Sichalwe
Friday, November 07, 2008 3:42:17 AM

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda yesterday said party president Michael Sata did not beat a suspected MMD cadre during the verification exercise as alleged.

Lubinda said he was at Nakatindi Hall throughout the morning when party representatives gathered and that he did not witness any confrontation between Sata and the suspected MMD cadre William Mataluzi.

Lubinda said what sparked off the confusion was the mismanagement of polling assistants because the council knew that Nakatindi Hall would be used for the verification exercise and that nobody should have been asked to wait for payment at the same hall.

Lubinda said when the polling assistants entered the hall, they outnumbered the political party representatives and this created the confusion.

Sata yesterday allegedly slapped Matalauzi who sustained a swollen right hand and a shaky tooth on the upper jaw during the voter verification exercise in Lusaka.

Matalauzi has since reported Sata to Kabwata Police Station for assault.

Police spokesperson Bonny Kapeso confirmed that they have received a report of assault against Sata and that they would institute investigations into the matter.

According to several eye-witnesses, Sata went to Nakatindi Hall around 09:00 hours and found polling assistants that handled the just ended elections standing outside the hall waiting to be paid their allowances.

While the polling assistants were waiting outside, the political party representatives had already gathered inside the hall ready to commence the verification exercise.

The witnesses said upon arriving at Nakatindi Hall, Sata told the polling assistants to get into the hall and started telling council officials to pay the polling assistants immediately.

However, as Sata made running commentaries, he annoyed some MMD cadres that charged towards him and confusion ensued.

In the midst of the confusion, Sata is alleged to have slapped Matalauzi and pushed him against a table.

Sata's bodyguard is also reported to have slapped another suspected MMD cadre Moses Banda.

Afterwards, Sata was led to his vehicle that was parked outside and drove off.

According to the police medical report from Kabwata Clinic, Matalauzi sustained a bruise on the lower lip and a swollen right hand.

The medical report states that Matalauzi was assaulted by a known person who allegedly used fists to inflict the injury.

Another police medical report stated that Banda had a painful neck and left arm and that he was assaulted by a known person.

Both medical reports were issued by Sub Inspector Muleya from Kabwata Police Station.

Lusaka Central Constituency returning officer Peter Kashiwa complained that the confusion that was caused by the party representatives delayed the verification process.

Consequently, Lusaka City Council (LCC) town clerk Timothy Hakuyu announced the postponement of the verification exercise to next week.

Hakuyu explained that they had earlier informed the polling assistants to go and get their allowances from Nakatindi Hall.

He said when the polling assistants arrived at the hall, his officers directed them to go to the peri-urban offices since the hall was being used for the verification exercise.

However, Hakuyu said the polling assistants resisted to leave Nakatindi Hall and in the process caused confusion.

“Somebody came and told them to get into the hall. There was a bit of confrontation, some officers were slapped. So there was some commotion,” he said. “It is that commotion that has delayed the entire process and this has prompted the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to advise us to suspend this exercise. So the officers are here, just talk to those who were slapped and then they will explain to you.”

Hakuyu said the verification process would be attended by party representatives, two election agents, observers and monitors.

He appealed to the political party agents to be calm.

Hakuyu said the verification process was not a recount but that they were merely verifying the ballot papers that were issued, used, rejected and cast.