“I almost died,” General Kanene recounts brutal attack by UPND cadres in Mwembeshi

266 Views Zambian musician Clifford Dimba, popularly known as General Kanene, says he nearly lost his life after being brutally attacked by UPND cadres while performing at a political event in Mwembeshi over the weekend. In a video recorded after he was discharged from hospital, Kanene said the attackers came armed with guns, pangas, sticks […]

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Zambian musician Clifford Dimba, popularly known as General Kanene, says he nearly lost his life after being brutally attacked by UPND cadres while performing at a political event in Mwembeshi over the weekend.

In a video recorded after he was discharged from hospital, Kanene said the attackers came armed with guns, pangas, sticks and other weapons. He described how the assault left him with deep cuts and severe blood loss.

“I almost died,” he said. “They came at me on stage and I thought that was the end.”

Kanene said he had deliberately stayed away from the country’s two biggest parties ahead of the campaigns. He explained that both the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity, led by presidential candidate Brian Mundubile, and the ruling United Party for National Development had approached him. He declined both, opting instead to perform for independent candidates because he wanted to avoid being caught in political crossfire.

“I chose independents because I didn’t want trouble,” he said. “I have seen what happens when musicians are linked to one side. I wanted to just do my job and go home.”

According to Kanene, the trouble started when he noticed a group of men moving around the venue in a Land Cruiser distributing UPND T-shirts. Minutes later, while he was on stage entertaining the crowd, the same men charged toward him.

He said they were shouting party slogans and carrying pangas and sticks. Within seconds the stage was overrun. The attackers, he said, turned on him, on sound equipment, and on vehicles belonging to independent candidate Ibrahim Mwamba. Speakers were smashed and Mwamba’s vehicle was vandalized.

Kanene said he tried to shield himself but was overwhelmed. He suffered cuts to his arms and head and lost a lot of blood. He credited members of the public who rushed in for saving him.

“If those people had not intervened, I wouldn’t be here talking to you,” he said. “They pulled me off the stage and pushed me through the crowd. Some of them got hit trying to protect me.”

After the assault, Kanene and his team drove through nearby fields to avoid further confrontation and went straight to the nearest police station to report the incident. From there he was taken to a medical facility for treatment.

He thanked the people who risked their own safety to rescue him, saying their quick action prevented a fatal outcome. He also appealed to political leaders to tell their supporters to stop using violence against artists and ordinary citizens.

Kanene did not say whether he will continue performing at political gatherings. He noted however that music is how he earns a living and that many musicians depend on campaign events for work during election season.

“I am a musician. When I am hired, I go and perform. That is my livelihood,” he said. “But we also have a right to be safe. We are not fighters. We go there to entertain.”

The attack is the latest in a series of reported incidents of political violence as Zambia heads toward elections. Rights groups have warned that musicians, vendors and supporters are increasingly being targeted for the perceived political affiliations of the candidates they work with.

Police in the area had not issued a formal statement on the Mwembeshi incident by the time of publication. Human rights organizations have called for swift investigations and for perpetrators to be brought to book, saying attacks on performers undermine free expression and public participation.

For Kanene, the experience has left both physical and emotional scars. He said he is still recovering but grateful to be alive.

“I thank God and I thank the people who helped me,” he said. “Politics should not cost someone their life.”