UPND CADRES CHARGING DRIVERS

SUSPECTED UPND cadres are allegedly charging bus drivers K50 for loading at Munyaule Market in Lusaka’s Shatumbu area.

The affected drivers have complained that they were forced to pay K50 per trip which was unsustainable, especially that they needed to make daily cashing.

But UPND Lusaka youth chairperson Anderson Banda has warned that the party would not tolerate such behavior adding no party affiliation would be shielded when found on the wrong side of the law.

Mr Banda said caderism would not be tolerated in the new dawn administration because it has the potential to dent the party’s image adding that those found wanting would be dealt with according to the law.

Mr. Banda has further urged the affected drivers and members of the public to report any wrong doing to both the party secretariat and law enforcement agencies.

“Drivers that are being threatened, harassed and intimidated should report the matter to police and we will not shield anyone conducting illegal activities in the name of the party, “Mr. Banda said.

In an interview, one of the affected drivers, Chaambo Munalula who operates from Lima Tower to Munyaule said it was now becoming difficult to operate in that route because some cadres were intimidating them if they resisted to pay K50 per trip.

Another minibus driver Victor Kachongwe narrated that last week on Friday cadres descended on him when he refused to pay the K50 for loading.

Mr Kachongwe said if the ruling party did not take any action against the cadres, the situation would get out of hand and breed anarchy.

“It is sad that despite reporting these cadres who are harassing drivers and citizens, the party leadership is mute. And if this is not tackled, it will bring confusion in bus stations,” Mr Kachongwe said.