Fourth Republican president Rupiah Banda was yesterday mobbed by Chipata residents in Eastern province when he stopped by the city centre during his weeklong visit to the area.
When word went that he was in a certain shop, a huge turn out of easterners flocked to interact with president Banda forcing owners of Modern Bazaar to close the premises to control the excited crowd.
The former head of State was forced to mingle with Chipata residents and urged them and other Zambians to bury their differences and unite for the greater interest of the country.
Upon coming out, President Banda found several residents camped outside, and the only way he could disperse them was by talking to them.
“I am happy to see that you are still peaceful people. Peace and unity are some of the characteristics that define our nationhood. I want to encourage you to continue loving one another regardless of your political party affiliations. Most of all, seek no revenge against your perceived enemies from whichever party,” said the retired head of State in a statement released to Zambia Reports by deputy administrative assistant Kennedy Limwanya.
He further advised the residents to refrain from violence, as it was retrogressive to national development.
The former president has spent this week in Chipata visiting relatives and checking on his Chasimpha farm on the Chipata-Mfuwe road.
Ruling party militia are on rampage in the country attacking opponents of the President Sata and the Patriotic Front. The PF sponsored youths recently decended on protestors with assorted weapons that gathered in a church in Matero.
Yesterday, while president Banda was preaching peace and unity, another group of PF thugs descended on Catholic priest Father Frank Bwalya while he was on a radio programme at Flava fm studio in Kitwe.
MMD youth wing leader Bowman Lusambo has also fallen victim to the militia under the direction of PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba and is administered by provincial party functionaries like Kennedy Kamba.
The post Rupiah Mobbed in Chipata appeared first on Zambia Reports.