UNRULY CADRES ANGER MWEETWA

He said the UPND and President Hakainde Hichilema had not changed its stance and policy on caderism and that those perpetuating the vice should know that they were on their own.

There was pandemonium at the market as the said UPND cadres engaged in a free-for-all fast and fury fight after they demanded to be given money by the drivers, a demand that was curtly resisted resulting into a punchup.

But Mr Mweetwa, the Southern Province Minister said that the party’s stance had not change and that there was no way the country was going back to caderism.

He said that caderism had reduced drastically from the time the UPND took over power because government had put up a number of measures that were aimed at empowering youths.

Mr Mweetwa said that government had set up youth empowerment programmes through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as well as the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC).

He said while he did not have the details of the fracas between the cadres and the drivers, it was the position of the UPND government that the era of thuggery and harassing the public had gone and that anyone engaging in illegalities in the name of the governing party was nothing but a law breaker.

Mr Mweetwa said those arrested for such conduct should be ready to face the full wrath of the law and that the ruling party shall not protect them.

Mr Mweetwa assured that youths of any political affiliation were free to trade in stations but that no one should feel superior just because they belong to a certain political party which was in power.

“The party’s stance has not changed and we are not going to allow manoeuvres that will enable the return of caderism in the country,” Mr Mweetwa said.

And the Zambia Police in a statement said it had recorded 25 cases of malicious damage to property after a group of 10 unruly people at City Market Bus Station ran amok and caused serious damages to minibuses.

Zambia Police acting spokesperson Danny Mwale said some minibus drivers were left with serious injuries in the same fracas that occurred on April 6, 2023 between 14:30 hours and 16:00 hours at City Market Bus station Munyaule area opposite Young Phiros shop.

And one of the drivers who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of victimization said UPND cadres fought with bus drivers at Munyaule area, demanding payment of levies.

“The cadres wanted to force us to start paying something but we stood our ground and that made them furious, hence eruption of the riot,” he said.