COPPERBELT UPND DISMISSES CLAIMS OF KABUSWE AND MATAMBO ARREST OVER MUFULIRA COPPER SCANDAL
By Justina Matandiko
The UPND on the Copperbelt has dismissed as false and malicious, social media claims alleging that former Mines Minister Paul Kabuswe and former Copperbelt Minister Elisha Matambo have been arrested in connection with the Mufulira copper scandal.
In a statement, UPND Copperbelt Deputy Provincial Information and Publicity Secretary, Godfrey Kamangu says the allegations, circulated by a Facebook content creator, are intended to divert the two leaders from campaigning for President Hakainde Hichilema and other UPND candidates ahead of this year’s election.
Mr. Kamangu says Mr. Matambo is currently in Lufwanyama campaigning with other UPND candidates, while Mr. Kabuswe is in Lusaka attending to official engagements and have both dismissed the claims as malicious propaganda.
He has condemned what he describes as the abuse of the cyberspace through the spread of false information, saying such misinformation has the potential to damage the reputations of public officials.
Mr. Kamangu has since called on the Zambia Police Cyber Security Unit to investigate the matter and take legal action against the individual responsible for originating the claims
The claims follow the recent arrest and charging of former Copperbelt Province Police Commissioner Mwala Yuyi and 5 others in connection with the alleged theft of 436 copper cathodes valued at US$448,596, after investigations into the copper consignment, which was recovered in the Mokambo area of Mufulira District in March this year.
PHOENIX NEWS