By MOFFAT CHAZINGWA-
COPPERBELT United Party for National Development (UPND) chairperson, Elisha Matambo has been questioned by police for allegedly uttering an alarming statement over the health of President Michael Sata.
Mr Matambo was warned and cautioned at the Kitwe district police headquarters where he was summoned for interrogation yesterday.
The Copperbelt UPND chairperson was summoned for interrogation in connection with a statement attributed to him over claims about President Sata’s health and that the country would soon have a presidential by-election.
Mr Matambo, who arrived at the district police headquarters, around 11:25 hours confirmed after the interrogation that lasted for about 40 minutes that he was warned and cautioned over the alleged alarming statement.
“Police summoned me on allegations that I said President Sata is going to die and that people should prepare for a by-election but I have denied that because it is just an allegation,” said Mr Matambo who was accompanied by his lawyer Tom Shamakamba and UPND Copperbelt spokesperson Kennedy Kalunga.
Mr Matambo described the action by the police to interrogate him as mere intimidation to which he vowed not to succumb.
He accused the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) of using the police to instil

MATAMBO

fear in him so as to silence the UPND in the province.
Copperbelt police chief, Joyce Kasosa when contacted said Mr Matambo’s interrogation was in relation to a statement attributed to him while at a UPND meeting in Kitwe on June 7, this year.
“Mr Matambo has been warned and cautioned over the alarming statement where the UPND is going round telling people that President Sata is ill and the country will soon be going for a by-election,” she said.
Ms Kasosa said police only warned and cautioned Mr Matambo but that investigations into the matter had since been instituted.