By Nsofwa Hamudombe
MATERO PETITION CASE HEATS UP
The Lusaka High Court has been visited by the UPND Parliamentary MATERO candidate Hon Tom N.H Michelo seeking justice from his supposedly won vote which was marred with electoral malpractices ranging from bribery, intimidation and gross violence by Miles Bwalya Sampa of the PF, which made most people from the constituency to stay away from voting and others to vote for the PF.
Our office which is situated off Muchinga road between 20th May and 14th June suffered a number of attacks with intentions of burning it down.We would time and again report to Matero Police Station and the officers did a good job to preserve lives at the office commended Hon Tom Michelo in his testimony before Judge Derrick Mulenga.
Hon Tom Michelo survived at the UPND Matero office, as the PF thugs were after his life when they would come to attack with an assortment of weapons ranging from pangas, teargas canisters,catapults and other dangerous weapons.
It was very dangerous for one to wear any UPND regalia as Miles Sampa’s security Team led by Chileshe Mwila aka Cash Money hacked a number of our members on my campaign team lamented Hon Tom Michelo before Judge Derrick Mulenga.
In the same case hearing, it was revealed that between 12th and 13th July, 2021;an online media publication called BOBA TV owned by Miles Sampa with a following of over 144,000 following published a deformatory article which suggested that Hon Tom Michelo had pulled out from the Matero Parliamentary race, which basically created a negative impact on his campaign as most people changed their minds to vote for him.
The Police command at Matero Station which constituted a Surveillance Team of campaign activities in Matero Constituency led by Chief Inspector Wellington Chabula Chalwe and Thomas Nyingika as Deputy Operations Officer, also confirmed political violence which was perpetrated by PF,as well as dishing out of money, removing of UPND campaign posters and constant threats to burn the UPND campaign centre by the Miles Bwalya Sampa Team.
Hon Tom Michelo’s campaign agent,Mr Teddy Chingu testified that despite the campaign ban from the 15th June to 11th July;the PF continued campaigning in Kapwepwe ward where they were distributing mealie meal, regalia and money. It was also revealed that, the ECZ polling agents couldn’t give out GEN 20 forms to most UPND monitors.
Counsel Martha Mushipe is leading the petitioning Team.
Hearing continues on 01/11/21 @9hrs.