By Sunday Times Reporter –
A SCAM dubbed ‘Operation Armageddon’ in which the United Party for National Development (UPND) is allegedly planning to go on rampage destroying property and perpetuating violence against the ruling party sympathisers has been unearthed.
Patriotic Front (PF) Copperbelt youth chairperson Nathan Chanda said in a statement yesterday that ‘Operation Armageddon’ had already started bearing fruit as evidenced by violent incidences against PF sympathisers in UPND strongholds coupled with burning of private and public property.
Recently, unknown people burnt down Government offices in Lukulu District while in Lusaka, Katambalala Market in Bauleni Township and Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa’s lodge in Lusaka West experienced a similar fate.
In Namwala District, more than 140 families have been displaced and sought refuge at Namwala Secondary School after their homes were burnt down.
In April, this year, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was quoted in The Post as having urged Zambians to pray hard ahead of the Armageddon on August 11, 2016, which was the day for the general elections.
Mr Chanda said the burning down of property and violence against PF sympathisers were indications that Mr Hichilema’s Armageddon prophecy was manifesting.
“It is no wonder that the unprecedented electoral violence the country witnessed towards elections day and what has continued being witnessed, particularly in regions [Mr] Hichilema’s UPND enjoys support is indeed this Armageddon which was prophesied by ‘pastor’ Hichilema,” he said.
Mr Chanda charged that the former MMD president-turned UPND sympathiser Nevers Mumba was allegedly mocking and humiliating the displaced families in Namwala by saying the incidents were stage-managed.
He wondered why Dr Mumba believed that the Namwala incident was stage-managed and yet the victims were shown on camera narrating their ordeal.
Mr Chanda warned that statements attributed to the UPND leadership and the subsequent violent activities in some parts of the country risked having Mr Hichilema and his fellow party leaders indicted in the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
“From all the incidents committed and statements uttered by UPND leaders over the campaign and post-election periods, it is clear that the opposition party thrives on misfortunes of Zambians.
It is clear that “(Mr) Hichilema and his team have a strategy to  thrive on the misfortunes of Zambians in an effort to form Government, and this is what may land them at the International Criminal Court,” he said.