Zambian President Michael Sata is blaming the opposition for the death of a cadre representing the ruling PF in what was described as intra-party violence during a ward election in Rufunsa.
Crispin Menyani Zulu, a member of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) was killed in Rufunsa on Thursday, after PF cadres differed over campaign money.
But Sata, through his mouthpiece George Chellah, issued a statement late evening accusing the opposition UPND and MMD cadres for the death of Zulu.
Sources in Rufunsa, however, disclosed that Zulu was one of the PF cadres that were ferried to Rufunsa from Lusaka Slyvia Masebo and Geofrey Chumbwe local government bye-elections and differed with colleagues over how to share money and were fighting.
President Sata alleged; “It’s tragic that the political violence by the opposition UPND and MMD, which we have been preaching against, has resulted in a loss of an innocent life.
“As a responsible government we have said time and again that life and property will not be secure if politicians continue preaching violence,” President Sata said.
President Sata has since directed his cadres at the Zambia Police Service to ensure that the culprits are brought to book.
“These murderous acts are unacceptable and the people responsible must face the full wrath of the law. I therefore, instruct the police to do their job professionally by making sure that the perpetrators of this serious crime are dealt with accordingly,” he stated.
It remains to be seen if the compromised police service will do anything since their fellow PF cadres were involved in the fight.