WARNING SH0TS WERE ONLY FIRED IN SERENJE AFTER THE F|GHT|NG STARTED
…says a UPND member testifying under oath
Kabwe… Friday, November 8, 2024
A state witness, Meyor Kabwenda aged 42, of Mkushi, has told the Kabwe High Court that there was serious f|ght|ng when a group of UPND cadres ambushed a Socialist Party public meeting at the Mothers shelter in Serenje district.
Ms Kabwenda, a Chairlady in the ruling UPND, says after the f|ght|ng started, warning sh0ts were f|red in the air allegedly by party President Dr Fred M’membe.
Contrary to the testimony of other state witnesses including Emmanuel Simposya and Haggai Kwenda who were in her company, Kabwenda testified that she was not aware of any UPND official claiming to have been be@ten or @bducted by the Socialist Party.
Defense Counsel: Are you aware of a person who was @bducted by the Socialist Party on 8 April, 2023?
Witness Kabwenda: No
Defense Counsel: Are you aware of anybody that was at Fallways and was be@ten by SP members?
Witness Kabwenda: No
Defense Counsel: Confirm that there was serious fight|ng when your group entered the Socialist Party gathering at the Mothers shelter?
Witness Kabwenda: Yes there was.
Defense Counsel: After the f|ght|ng started, there were warning sh0ts?
Witness Kabwenda: Yes.
Defense Counsel: And after the Gunshots, people started scampering?
Witness Kabwenda: Yes
Ms Kabwenda is testifying in a matter in which Dr M’membe is facing three counts of acts intended to cause grievous harm emanating from the Serenje violence that occurred in April 2023.
In the first count, allegations are that the opposition leader, on the 8th of April 2023 in Serenje District of Central Province, with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous harm, wounded Emmanuel Simposya without any lawful justification.
In the second count where he is jointly charged with Daniel Mumba, Dr M’membe is alleged to have assaulted the ‘victim’ in question on the material day.
Particulars in the last count are that the two accused persons allegedly assaulted Haggai Kwenda.
When the matter came up today for continued trial before Hon Lady Justice RH Chibbabuka at Kabwe High Court, the witness told court that she has absolutely no evidence before court to prove that Dr M’membe confronted UPND cadres at the scene of violence in Serenje.
Trial is ongoing.