Canisius Banda
Suspended United Party for National Development (UPND) Vice President for Politics Dr Canisius Banda has made a shocking claim that somebody wants to see him dead.
Dr Banda who was last week suspended by his party for issuing inflammatory statements, discussing party issues and colleagues to the media also appealed to President Edgar Lungu to help him stay safe.
“What I am going to tell you now will shock, terrify and extremely sadden you. Somebody wants to kill me. Somebody wants to terminate my life,” he said.
In a Facebook posting in the early hours of Wednesday, September 28, 2016, Dr Banda in his usual poetic manner, wrote saying eight men had hijacked his brother at Chainama bus stop. He said the men wanted his brother to tell them his whereabouts and offered K15,000 if he obliged.
“Tonight, at about 19:40 hours, something very sad happened.
…two black GX V8 Landcruisers with no plates suddenly surrounded my younger brother who was in a Corolla. This was at Chainama Bus Stop.
Eight men, all wearing black suits, came out of the vehicles. As the vehicles idled on the tarmac, all of them pulled out guns. ‘Tell us where Dr Canisius BANDA stays. We will give you fifteen thousand Kwacha if you do so.’ My brother refused,” Dr Banda narrated.
“President Lungu see now what your country is coming to. I am a law abiding and diligent citizen, an exemplary patriot.
“President Lungu I now appeal to you. Protect me. I am one of Zambia’s citizens. Secure my life, Mr President. That is your responsibility.”
Dr Banda also fears that those hunting him will look for him until they get him.
“(They told my brother that,) ‘whether you tell us (where I stay) or not we will find him…’ one of them said as they got back into the cars and sped away.
The matter has been reported to the police.
Fellow citizens come to my rescue. Protect me. I have spent all my life protecting you. Today it is me, tomorrow it will be you. Things have now fallen apart. Pray for me. An attack on one is an attack on all of us..,” he said.
“…I am somebody’s son.
…I am somebody’s brother.
…I am somebody’s father.
…I am somebody’s friend.
…I am a medical doctor.
…I am a public health specialist.
…I am a columnist.
…I am a teacher.
…to some I am a national asset.
…I am many things.
…but most importantly, I am just an ordinary human being only trying to help another,” he wrote his ussual poetic way.