By HELLEN TEMBO and FLAVIOR CHISHALA –
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) deputy spokesperson, Frank Bwalya was yesterday attacked by suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres at Sky FM Radio in Monze where he had gone to give a walk-in interview.
He sustained injuries and was by press time scheduled to be evacuated to University Teaching Hospital (UTH) for further medical attention.
Mr Bwalya, who confirmed this in an interview from Monze, said the suspected UPND cadres attacked him while he was in the conference room waiting for a reporter.
“While I was waiting in the conference room for the reporter to call me, I just saw some three men walk in and started beating me up.
“They beat me badly and left me in pain,” Mr Bwalya said shortly after being attended to by a doctor at Monze Mission Hospital.
He said the incident happened around 16:20 hours, adding that he had earlier gone to Chikuni radio where he was on a live programme.
Southern province police chief Godwin Phiri also confirmed the incident in an interview.
Mr Phiri said Mr Bwalya, who was attacked in the presence of SKY FM radio reporters, had since lodged a complaint to the police.
“Yes we received Mr Bwalya’s report and he has been taken to Monze hospital for medical checkups,” he said.
Mr Phiri said police had opened a docket of assault against the suspects and a manhunt had been established.
He said the police had withheld the names of the suspects to allow for further investigations.