By MELBOURNE MUSHITU –
MMD national youth secretary Bowman Lusambo has reported veteran politician Vernon Mwaanga to police for alarming the nation when he allegedly issued a media statement that the Patriotic Front (PF) intended to rig this year’s elections.
Mr Lusambo yesterday went to Lusaka Central Police Station to petition the Zambia Police to summon Dr Mwaanga to explain the vote-rigging statement attributed to him in the Saturday edition of The Post newspaper.
The paper, dated January 9, 2016, reported that Dr Mwaanga had advised the opposition to strictly monitor and scrutinise the tallying of votes in the 2016 general elections as the tallying process had in the past been subjected to manipulation and abuse.
Mr Lusambo said he had taken the issue up as a responsible citizen to petition the police because the rigging statement attributed to Dr Mwaanga was a threat to peace and national security.
“I want Dr Mwaanga to explain to the nation how electoral officials have rigged elections in the past and how they plan to rig the 2016 general elections,” Mr Lusambo said.
He said the statement attributed to Dr Mwaanga was likely to cause violence and displeasure during and after elections.
Mr Lusambo said this to journalists after a closed-door meeting with the police intelligence unit around 11:30 hours.
He arrived at the station around 09:40 hours.
Mr Lusambo was confident that the police would do a great job as the issue concerned every Zambian.
Meanwhile, Dr Mwaanga said in his response to a query that he respected the rights of misinformed citizens like Mr Lusambo who obviously did not read and understand his statement that was published on his Facebook page.
“I will always respect the rights of even irresponsible, misguided, ill-informed and vindictive citizens like Bowman Lusambo. It is their sole purpose in life and it is the credit they have to their names,” he said.
Dr Mwaanga said Mr Lusambo was free to do what he felt was right as it was what it meant to live in a democratic society.
He said he knew his rights as a Zambian citizen and that he would exercise them in a mature and responsible manner.