By JAMES KUNDA –
FORMER Sesheke United Party for National Development (UPND) member of Parliament (MP) Sianga Siyauya was yesterday assaulted by four UPND cadres in Sesheke District, Western Province.
The four, who left Mr Siyauya with injuries, are on the run and police have launched a manhunt for the quartet.
The incident happened at around 06:00 hours when Mr Siyauya, who was not adopted to re-contest the seat by the opposition party, allegedly strayed into the UPND camp which was in the area for campaigns.
Mr Siyauya recently shifted his allegiance to the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), saying he would support President Edgar Lungu in next month’s general elections.
The quartet pounced on Mr Siyauya whom they left with a cut on the lips before running away.
Western Province Police chief Standwell Lungu said this in an interview yesterday.
“Mr Siyauya, the former MP for Sesheke, was assaulted by four named UPND cadres this morning (yesterday).
“He was rushed to Sesheke District hospital for treatment after sustaining a cut on the lips and complaining of general body pains.
The suspects are known and police have launched a manhunt for them,” Mr Lungu said.
UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma, however, said he had not received a report of the incident involving Mr Siyauya.
Mr Lungu, however, described the campaign atmosphere in the region as peaceful because only three out of 19 constituencies in the province had recorded incidences of violence.
He named the three constituencies as Mongu, Sesheke and Kaoma.
“Out of 19 constituencies, only three have recorded incidences of electoral violence with a total of seven cases, of which five are before the courts of law and two are being investigated.
“We commend the people in the 16 constituencies for observing peace and it is our desire that the incidences of violence recorded in the three districts do not recur,” he said.
Mr Lungu assured that the police command in the region would do everything possible to ensure that peace prevailed to ensure credible elections next month.