MY ROLE IN THE SERENJE BY-ELECTION WAS TO CAUSE VI0LENCE
…testifies a UPND member in the Fred M’membe Kabwe High Court case
Kabwe… Friday, November 8, 2024
A state witness, Haggai Kwenda of Mkushi, has testified before the Kabwe High Court, that there was zero vi0lence in the April, 2023 Serenje by-election until his team arrived in the district.
Mr Kwenda also testified that he was not a registered voter in Serenje, had no idea of the name of the local government ward where the by-election was taking place and that he was a UPND member.
He told court that he equally had no idea who the UPND candidate was in that by-election and that he was not told when voting would take place.
Mr Kwenda was testifying in a matter in which Socialist Party (SP) President Dr Fred M’membe is facing three counts of acts intended to cause grievous h@rm emanating from the Serenje violence that occurred in April 2023.
In the first count, allegations are that the opposition leader, on the 8th of April 2023 in Serenje District of Central Province, with intent to maim, disfigure or cause grievous h@rm, w0unded Emmanuel Simposya without any lawful justification.
In the second count where he is jointly charged with Daniel Mumba, Dr M’membe is alleged to have ass@ulted the ‘victim’ in question on the material day.
Particulars in the last count are that the two accused persons allegedly ass@ulted Haggai Kwenda.
When the matter came up for continued trial before Hon Lady Justice RH Chibbabuka at Kabwe High Court, the witness told court that it was his role to cause vi0lence in the by-election.
He further narrated that he was fully aware that he was a UPND member testifying against an opposition leader and his party member and that he personally retrieved the alleged victim, Emmanuel Simposya, from the scene after allegedly being attacked.
“Are you aware that you’re all UPND except for the Doctor and Police officer, testifying against an opposition leader and his party member?” Asked Defense Counsel, “Yes”.
Mr Kwenda said he was in the company of Simposya and others “on their way to deliver mealie meal and relish” when they parked their vehicles where the Socialist Party held its meeting and confronted Dr M’membe.
Defense Counsel: You said that you parked along the road 5 metres away?
Mr Kwenda: Yes
Defense Counsel: Did you take the mealie meal to your members?
Mr Kwenda: No
Defense Counsel: Confirm that at the Shelter, there were a lot of SP members?
Mr Kwenda: Yes
Defense Counsel: You saw Emmanuel Simposya walk through this group to confront Dr M’membe?
Mr Kwenda: Yes
Defense Counsel: Did Emmanuel Simposya come face to face with Dr M’membe wearing a Red barret, military boot and a Red UPND Shirt?
Mr Kwenda: No
Meanwhile, Kwenda who earlier told court that he had seen an SP member hit him with a stick as he tried to lift Simposya from the ground u-turned on his testimony saying it was not possible for him, in a bending position, to see somebody behind him.
Defense Counsel: Demonstrate how you picked Emmanuel…. in that position, are you able to see somebody beating you?
Mr Kwenda: No
Defense Counsel: You told court that you were beaten on the left shoulder, the same shoulder on which you lifted Emmanuel… and rushed him to the Car parked on the roadside?
Mr Kwenda: Yes.
Trial continues today.