A United Party for National Development UPND Cadre, Emmanuel Simposha, has accused Socialist Party President, Fred M’membe, of threatening to shoot him dead.

Mr. Simposha who is currently admitted at the University Teaching Hospital says this happened when the UPND clashed with the Socialist Party during campaigns in one of the wards ahead of a local government by election.

According to the victim, Mr. Mmembe while carrying his pistol fired gunshots which grazed his left ear.

But in a statement, Mr. Mmembe denied any wrong doing claiming that he did not aim at killing anybody but to scare away unruly UPND Cadres.

Meanwhile, GEARS Initiative Zambia and SACCORD have condemned the incident saying the use of various weapons including guns by politicians and cadres is a big threat to national security.

On Sunday Police in Serenje District, Central Province arrested and charged Socialist Party leader Fred M’membe with two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

By Darius Choonya