TAME CADRES

POLITICAL cadres in Zambia are usually defined by their grumpy behaviour and extreme reactionary conduct they exhibit when in large gatherings. In many cases, they are associated with violence whenever there is a political, social or legal activity. The above scenario is so glaring each time their political leaders are deemed to be on the wrong side of the law and summoned for questioning. The cadres have in most instances invaded police stations, stalked law enforcement officers, much to the chagrin of the general public. Each time police move in to restore order, the cadres retort with invectives. Police have naturally summoned minimum force to restore sanity and in the process some cadres are injured. Then hell breaks loose! Opposition political leaders and some Civil Society Organisations (CSO) head to the anthills to scream blue murder about “police brutality.” Yet, the same organisations do not restrain the cadres from engaging in uncouth behaviour; in fact, they encourage them. They mobilise resources to ferry political hooligans to police stations under the false garb of inviting them for moral support. But they are actually mobilised to cause confusion; why fete them with alcohol in the first place! In Ndola, the hollow strategy did not work when United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema was summoned to appear at the Copperbelt divisional headquarters for questioning. The police command had planned well in advance to handle cantankerous political cadres. They had designed an appropriate crowd control strategy, which kept all the cadres at bay. Copperbelt police commissioner Charity Katanga had warned, beforehand, of stern action against any cadres with intention to cause anarchy. The police premises, stretching from the Copperbelt division to Central police station, was sealed off early enough. Main roads around that area were equally cordoned off. The cadres were consigned to the fringes of the Civic Centre and Lowenthal Theatre where they lurked in the shadows without any chance of getting closer to the station. It is against this background that we impress upon officers in other areas to pick a leaf from the Copperbelt command which implemented a water-tight crowd control plan. Mr Hichilema left the Copperbelt division to address his supporters at the Civic Centre around 12:30 hours and an hour later, the city was quiet. No cadre was donned in party regalia anywhere! Police officers were alert and friendly. This country has in the past witnessed lawlessness within the precincts of a police station where cadres have dared officers. Woodlands police station in Lusaka has on many occasions been turned upside down, with cadres mocking officers in their faces. Cadres have extended their hooliganism to unsuspecting motorists by banging their bonnets and blocking the roads with impunity. All this is done under the pretext of offering solidarity to their erring leaders. It appears that their leaders enjoy such euphoria and think that it is a sign of popularity. It is not. Hats off Charity Katanga; she and her command handled a potentially-explosive scenario with ease. UPND had mobilised cadres from other towns to set Ndola on fire, but they were immobilised and defused. The cadres lurked in shadows like fear-gripped strangers; gnashed their teeth in awe; remained aloof without direction. They only gained some semblance of morale when their leader pulled up the Civic Centre, by which time they had a fair share of the sweltering heat. From now on, cadres must be kept at bay; some of them are mere hooligans masquerading as political cadres. Tame cadres!