UPND TO CRACK WHIP ON TRUANT CADRES

By Kalobwe Bwalya

WE are not aware that some suspected UPND cadres stormed and disrupted the Ward Development Committee (WDC) elections in Lima Ward in Matero constituency, UPND Lusaka District youth chairman Anderson Banda has said.

Speaking to The Scoop, Mr. Banda, however, warned that anyone who will be found wanting will face disciplinary action from the party adding that the ruling UPND party did not allow lawlessness.

This follows claims by the opposition PF that the Ward Development Committee (WDC) elections had been cancelled due to the disruption by suspected UPND cadres in Matero.

PF Kapwepwe Ward 29 councillor Patrick Mwamba claimed that the process was disrupted by UPND who were chasing non-UPND members in Lusaka’ s Matero Lima Ward.

Mr. Mwamba further said he will not allow such barbaric behaviour to affect Kapwepwe Ward WDC elections and that such behaviour would not be condoned.

“When PF was in power at a time when cadreism was fashionable, I resisted it and became unpopular among PF cadres, but I did not care then and today, I am ready to do the same as I will not allow cadres, whether from the ruling party or the opposition to assume control of election management and threaten council staff and residents of my ward,” Mr. Mwamba said.

Mr. Mwamba says he was not a product of the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD), said he was not associated with this esteemed institution which values equity, transparency, accountability and participation for nothing and that this confirms that he does not compromise when it comes to democracy and inclusive leadership.

He said those planning to extend the confusion from Lima to Kapwepwe Ward should be ready to sacrifice his life for democracy and the Zambian Constitution.

He said it was unpatriotic for suspected cadres to resort to violence and cause confusion just because they had an upper hand for support and protection.

He added that despite many challenges that the country was going through, there was no need to cause confusion and disrupt the elections by the cadres.

Mr. Mwamba said UPND cadres should know that it was a right of any person to choose whom they wished to be part of their leadership, instead of resorting to confusion and that said such behaviour was detrimental to the development of the nation.

He stated that if Zambians voted out the PF on the basis of cadreism and violence, then there would be nothing special about the UPND. 

But Mr. Banda insisted that he did not receive any report of complaints from any political party participating in the WDC elections about the violence but advised that any grieving party should   go through and launch the complaint.

He said once they launch the complaint, then it would be easier for the district office to take disciplinary action against those that would be found wanting.

“I have not received any report concerning the alleged disruption of WDC elections in Lusaka’s Matero Lima ward. However, anyone that will be found waiting will appear before the disciplinary committee because the UPND party will not entertain any confusion and violence in the country,” Mr. Banda warned.