CHAMBWA MOONGA
Lusaka
LUSAKA Province UPND chairman Obvious Mwaliteta says the ruling party cannot afford to move ‘20 steps backwards, after walking 10 steps forward’, on ending political cadreism that stained the capital city in the previous regime.
Mr Mwaliteta said on ZNBC TV’s Sunday Interview programme that claims that there are some UPND cadres who are beginning to intimidate business owners along Freedom Way in Lusaka are serious and he will decisively deal with the issue.
A Mr Moyo called in during the programme and alleged that some UPND officials have recruited some cadres who are slowly filling up Freedom Way and are using the ruling party’s name to intimidate some business owners.
“I will make a follow-up on that matter,” Mr Mwaliteta said.
He also indicated that the biggest problem along Freedom Way is that the road is overwhelmed with call-boys who load mini-buses.
“So, it is very difficult to differentiate between a call- boy and a political cadre because they do one and the same thing. [But] if there is a UPND official, we are not going to allow that,” he said.
“We can’t go 10 steps forward and be brought [back] 20 steps. We can’t make people uncomfortable in their own city. No.”
Mr Mwaliteta said way back, PF cadres made money easily, such that even those in the UPND, upon the party’s entry into Government in August 2021, thought it would be that easy to make money.
“UPND members thought it would be business as usual until the presidential announcement [of not allowing political cadreism on the streets].
“At first, it was very difficult to manage them but now, we have managed,” he said.
He believes bad reports about UPND cadres could be emerging now because: “We got reluctant as UPND provincial management.”
“We thought everything was okay. But now that they [UPND cadres] have started coming back, we won’t allow it.
“We are going to do justice to that issue. There should be no kamugodi [spot for torturing those with divergent political views],” Mr Mwaliteta said.
“If the President hears that there is kamugodi in Lusaka, muzanichosesa nchito (I will be fired).”..https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
