UPND Copperbelt chairperson Elisha Matambo has alleged that PF members are defacing Hakainde Hichilema’s campaign billboards in Ndola.
But PF provincial chairperson, Sturdy Mwale, dismissed Matambo’s allegation and advised him to report to police.
“The billboards erected for our president, HH, have been painted black and we suspect PF caders. How come only our posters have been painted black when the ones for their leader, Edgar Lungu, which are in the same area are intact? At Broadway roundabout, only Dr Scott and HH’s faces have been painted black but the street kids have told us that they saw the vehicle that dropped people to paint the posters and placed PF posters there. They got the number plate so this is confirmation of our allegations,” Matambo said.
“ At Ndola Central Hospital roundabout, the billboard their cost us about K30,000; it’s been painted black including the other one at Masala roundabout. Yet at the hospital roundabout there is another one with all the presidents including Edgar Lungu but only HH’s face has been painted black.”
Matambo said the UPND on the Copperbelt was restraining itself from hitting back at the PF members because they (UPND) had been warned by their party president to keep away from violence.
“We are reporting the matter to police and we expect the police to act professionally like Dr Guy Scot advised them to. We are going to be vigilant from now on and whoever will be caught in the act will regret. PF has been fighting with itself; it should not transport that confusion to UPND, let’s engage in issue based campaigns,” advised Matambo.
When contacted over the allegations, Mwale said it was sad that the UPND were suspecting the PF.
“It is sad that the UPND feels we are responsible. But the truth of the matter is even our posters have been brought down and we have reported the matter to police. I cannot support such activities because I am aware of the huge costs attached. I encourage my brother to report the matter to police. But as PF, we have also launched investigations because our posters have also been destroyed,” said Mwale