THE Government has condemned the harassment and beating of Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) personnel by opposition political party cadres in Livingstone on Thursday.

In a statement in Lusaka yesterday, Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha said the Government learnt with disappointment that suspected cadres of the United Party for National Development (UPND) and Patriotic Front (PF) pact beat up a ZANIS driver and technician who were announcing the arrival of President Banda in Livingstone.

"Government wishes to make it clear that announcing the arrival of the president in any part of Zambia is not an MMD party affair but a civic duty which ZANIS is obliged to undertake.

"It is, therefore, unreasonable for the cadres to attack people who were performing a Government duty which the leadership of the UPND/PF pact would also require if they came into government," Lieutenant General Shikapwasha said.