United Party for National Development- UPND-has dispelled stories circulating on social media that the UPND Leader Hakainde Hichilema has been arrested.

UPND Deputy Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa says stories circulating on social media are fake as the UPND leader is safe and there is no police presence at his residence.

Mr. Mweetwa says the party is not aware of any of the allegations circulating on social media and has advised those behind it to desist from doing so stating that is unnecessary and uncalled for.

He said this during a media briefing held in Lusaka at the party’s secretariat.

The Deputy Spokesperson further said no one from the UPND should issue any statement without getting clearance from the party Spokesperson, expect Mr. Hichilema.

He said anyone who speaks for the party should also ensure that there statements are accompanied by vocal or video to support the statement being issued .

Mr. Mweetwa noted that there have been many fake statements issued and attributed to the party .

And, Mr. Mweetwa has condemned the current impasse of gassing and criminal activities happening in the country.

Mr. Mweetwa said it is important for all Zambians to realise that there is only one Zambia that needs to be protected and safe guarded from such acts.

He has further called on the security agencies in the country to be proactive and ensure that such criminal activities are stopped .

The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops is saddened with what now appears to be a nationwide disrespect for human life manifested in gassing of the people as well as incidences of mob killing of individuals suspected to be behind the rampant gassing of homes and institutions.

The ZCCB say what Zambia now have are criminal and subversive activities which seem to be well planned, coordinated and seemingly sponsored aimed at inducing fear and disturbing peace among the citizenry to a point that people cannot sleep peacefully or go about their business.

George Lungu, the Bishop of Chipata and ZCCB President said these are typical acts of “terrorism”.

Bishop Lungu regretted that Zambia has reached such alarming levels of disrespect for human life and the destruction of property both private and public.

He said at a media briefing that Institutions of security and order such as the police and police stations have been attacked in the process with suspects subjected to mob justice in full view and participation of children and young people in committing such atrocities.

“Irresponsible recording, posting and sharing of such atrocities on social media to the unsuspecting public has further worsened the situation. Furthermore, the scarcity of timely, adequate and credible information on the matter from relevant authorities has fuelled further speculations and rumour mongering”, he said.

Bishop Lungu says it appears that Zambia has found itself in this current scenario due to a number of factors, including but not limited to the erosion of traditional, religious and moral values of society, polarisation of the nation on the political front which is evident in such areas as intolerance of divergent views, hate speech, tribal overtones, and selective application of Public Order Act.

He added that Zambia’s current economic downturn with the result of unemployment, hunger, general high cost of living, mistrust and declining confidence of the community in the
Police Service have also contributed to the current situation.

Bishop Lungu has since called for an immediate end to the shedding of blood and urged members of the public not to take the law into their hands as everyone is innocent until proven guilty by the courts of law.

He said for the sake of posterity, youths and children can no longer be subjected to witnessing and/or participating in the murder of suspects in cold blood nor used as tools of violence saying doing such is tantamount to breeding a generation of citizens that are not going to respect the sanctity of human life.

Bishop Lungu said those behind the said crime of gassing people should stop forthwith and repent and has called on the political leadership across all political divide to denounce all forms of criminality and subversive activities in order to guarantee peace, tranquillity and harmony.

He has asked for objectivity and responsibility when commenting on matters of public interest saying careless and irresponsible comments are bound to bring further anarchy and confusion.

Bishop Lungu said the security wings should be proactive in detecting and apprehending perpetrators of crime and ensuring the due process of the law is carried out and as a way of deterring criminal activities in society.

“Every Zambian must uphold our traditional, religious and moral values with regard to the sacredness of human life and inviolability of human rights.Irresponsible recording, posting and sharing of graphic materials on social media to the unsuspecting public should come to an end forthwith”, he added.

The Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company has refuted claims alleging that one of its major water sources was suspected to have been poisoned.

This following the investigation which Lusaka Water Supply and Sanitation Company instituted after an alarming message which circulated on social media and so far, nothing has been established to confirm the rumour.

Company Public Relations Officer Nshamba Muzungu says the Company water surveillance and quality assurance team have intensified the routine water quality monitoring of all water sources and distribution centres and so far, nothing above the normal levels of the usual water quality parameters has been established to indicate any traces of poisoning of the water as alleged in the anonymous message.

However, Mr Muzungu said the Company will continue undertaking water quality surveillance on a daily basis.

He said Water quality control measures have also been intensified to ensure that the water supplied meets the quality standards as required by the regulators, National Water and Sanitation Council.

Mr Muzungu said in addition, key water installations such as water sources, treatment plants, distribution centres are always under 24 hour security guard.

He said the motive behind the circulation of such a message on social media therefore is to cause panic among members of the public.

Mr Muzungu said the Water Utility firm has since engaged the police and ZICTA to bring the perpetrators to book.

“As we deliver on the mandate to supply water and provide sanitation services, our first obligation is to ensure that the water supplied is of the highest quality. Should there be anything which is ill-disposed to that, our first call to duty is to protect the interest of the consumers”, he added.

The Zambia Medical Association has condemned in the strongest possible terms the country’s current situation of gassing of innocent citizens and reported threats and attacks on health workers and health facilities.

Dr. Samson Chisele the President of the Zambia Medical Association says doctors and other health workers are there to save lives and are guided by the strict ethics of ‘first do no harm’.

Dr Chisele has called on all citizens to not attack health workers who are few and working under trying conditions to help the same citizens.

He said the citizens should be seen to be helping health workers in attending to country’s health needs which includes managing those that are affected and
are victims of the same gassing-including their full recovery, physically and mentally.

Dr Chisele has further called on the Ministry of Health to suspend implementation of the well-intended Zambia Population Based HIV Impact Assessment survey, ZAMPHIA, for at least three months in order to allow for calm in the affected communities.

He noted that Health workers involved in this survey are expected, among other things, to visit communities and collect HIV related information, including at the household level.

Dr Chisele has noted that continuing with this survey under the current circumstances seriously puts the lives of involved health care workers in harm’s way.