The UPND has labeled the Police as PF after it gave a permit to the ruling party to hold a rally in Kitwe at the same venue, it denied the opposition.
UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka said:
Following the cancellation of the UPND rally scheduled for 14 May at Kitwe’s Freedom Park, the PF have now announced a rally at the same location on the same date.
This is a cheap and desperate move by the PF to disrupt our schedule and try and save themselves from a great embarrassment at Heroes Stadium, where they had originally scheduled a rally for the 14th.
We had given notice to the authorities of our intention to hold a rally at Freedom Park on that date over one month in advance. That our event has now been cancelled and the PF have been permitted to go ahead at the same venue just 48 hours later is a clear case of abuse of office and further evidence that the police force is acting in violation of its own code that demands impartiality and integrity among other values. The police is once again acting not as the national police force but the PF police force.
The PF should know that it will take more than cheap tricks to derail our campaign. Their support base has crumbled over the past five years as a result of their lies and poor performance. They have only themselves to blame for this fact. On 11 August 2016 Zambians will have the chance to reject their failed leadership and vote for change. That is why they are running scared now.
Stephen Katuka
UPND Secretary General