Socialist Party president Fred M’membe has been arrested by police in Serenje District on charges of Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm (OABH). Two other suspected Socialist Party members have also been charged with the same offences. The charges relate to an incident in which nine suspected members of the United Party for National Development were allegedly assaulted by the suspects during a clash between the two parties while campaigning in Serenje District on April 8, 2023.
The police have also reported that two suspected Socialist Party members sustained injuries during the violence. All suspects are currently in police custody, waiting to be formally charged, while a manhunt has been launched for the suspected UPND members who fled the scene after assaulting the other two victims.
In response to the incident, the police have called on all political parties participating in the by-election in Serenje to exercise maximum restraint in order for the election to be peaceful. The police have also beefed up security in Serenje District to restore and maintain law and order.
Below is the full statement
April 9, 2023 – Police in Serenje District have arrested Socialist Party president Fred Mmembe for the offence of Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm.
Dr. Mmembe aged 64 of Rhodes Park in Lusaka has also been charged with the offence of Assault Occasioning Actual Bodly Harm (OABH) together with two other suspected Socialist Party members. They are all alleged to have assaulted nine suspected members of the United Party for National Development members.
Two suspected Socialist Party members also sustained injuries during the violence which occurred when the two political parties clashed while conducting their campaigns at four ways in Mwalilima and Kamalamba area of Serenje District in Central Province on April 8, 2023 between 14:00 hours and 16:30 hours.
All the suspects are detained in Police custody waiting to be formally charged while a manhunt has been launched for the suspected UPND members who fled the scene after assaulting the other two victims.
We call upon all political parties participating in the by-election in Serenje to exercise maximum restraint in order for the election to be peaceful.
We have since beefed up security in Serenje District in order to restore and maintain law and order.
Danny Mwale
Deputy Police Public Relations Officer
Government of jokers. Socialist party members arrested but manhunt for upnd cadres launched.
It’s very unfortunate that this government is not taking us anywhere. How did they manage to arrest Fred and his members while upnd were not.
They are waiting for instructions from Imenda or Kawana before effecting the arrests.
“Ubu cenjeshi bwa nkoko, pungwa ta sakamana”
How can the injured be detained and charged with assault? Whom did they assault? Is it not the other way round?
I’m the process of assaulting our members, the other aggressors got injured in the same process.
Police brutality has been imported in Zambia. This government will not disappoint you because they are consistent with saying one thing and doing the complete opposite. They will not silence the entire country. The opposition should really organise themselves and team up against these bull1es.
Surely this statement is bogus by the Police…Police Command in Lusaka should be ashamed I mean how do 2 people assault 9 people and they sustain injuries and the people who they assaulted are nowhere to be seen?
HH you are in govt today dont forget how you suffered at the hands of the police if you dont change this your future party members will suffer…reform the police for good!!
2026 will be worse I am afraid. The USA will turn a blind eye. It doesn’t look good.
There you go again…will it be worse than the violence in your area Kabushi?
Yes here I come again.
Hh is a mother-far-car
Unfortunate to see this happening and for Dr Mmembe to be arrested. Let peace and goodwill prevail.
Those cadres won’t be found and even if they are the issue will die a natural death no convictions but Fred will spend money and time in courts for 1 year.
Comrad M’membe has been released on police bond.
Serenje voters shall now vote for SP candidate to reject UPND violent pseudo democratic elections.
The biggest problem we face these days is lack of journalists to report news properly. Where is the real story of what happened?