Lusaka — Zambia's governing party supporters confronted a leading critic of President Rupiah Banda, Mr George Mpombo, in Lusaka at an open forum to discuss the country's democracy.

Mr Mpombo resigned as minister of Defence in President Banda's administration last July, but remained as an MP for the governing Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

Since his resignation, Mr Mpombo has taken a tough stance against President Banda's management of national affairs and the party.

The MMD Copperbelt Province executive committee last week suspended Mr Mpombo from the party, but he contends that his suspension is illegal. During the discussion yesterday where Mr Mpombo was a guest speaker, the MMD youths disrupted the proceedings and threatened to beat him up.

The MMD youths walked to the stage from where Mr Mpombo was talking, grabbed a microphone from him and roughed him up, but he was rescued by the organisers, The Press Freedom Committee, who whisked him to a hideout within the building.

Members of the audience scampered for safety as the MMD youths rampaged around roughing up people in the hall at Lusaka Play House.

The MMD youths smashed the table and almost hit Mr Mpombo with a chair.

The youths were taken to the venue in four buses and used the same mode of transport after they finished their 'mission'. Since all members of the audience were paying even these youths paid when entering. Someone was paying for them.