SAME OLD STORY

IT is sad that the hooligasm that was associated with the former ruling party, the Patriotic Front, at national events has continued under the United Party for National Development (UPND).

In typical tit for tat fashion, UPND cadres appear to be revenging the perceived injustices suffered when they were in the opposition.

Thus, the nation continues to witness skirmishes in which PF cadres are being chased from participating in national events like the International Women’s Day and Youth Day celebrations.

We are sure that Zambians would want to see positive changes in the nation by which political parties could put aside their ideological differences – if any – and participate freely at national events.

Moreover, it sends a wrong message when national leaders, in this case President Hakainde Hichilema, stands on the podium and proclaims that under his watch, violence which occurred during such events has ended.

As the nation observed Youth Day yesterday, hooligansm, thuggery and violence characterised Youth Day in some districts with PF youths not only beaten and assaulted but stripped of their regalia.

The PF were literally blocked and chased from entering the venues for the Youth Day forcing the members of the former ruling party to commemorate the day at their party’s offices.

For example, in Chipata, where President Hichilema graced the Youth Day, strategically-placed UPND cadres caused a stampede as they attacked the PF youths who had joined in the marching, beating and stripping them of their regalia and tearing it into pieces.

Business in Chipata was brought to a standstill with most shop owners closing for fear of their shops being looted as the UPND cadres went rampaging and marauding.

Chongwe, Chipata and Ndola were the most affected by the violence and thuggery of the UPND which was in some cases witnessed by the Zambia Police and senior UPND leaders.

Surely, the nation expected a better show this time around from the fractious International Women’s Day on March 9 when Police and UPND cadres reportedly blocked multitudes of PF and the United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) from participating – ostensibly for dwarfing the governing UPND.

The PF with its UKA in various districts, such as Kabwe, Kitwe, Kalulushi, Chililabombwe and Kasama was blocked from participating in the Women’s Day on account that they had dominated the event last year to the annoyance of the governing UPND.

In Chililabombwe in particular, Ms Saboi Imboela, the National Democratic Congress who was leading a combined multitude of UKA and her own party was physically harangued and harassed by the cadres and the police who blocked them from accessing the venue.

And as we noted last week, we do not think these were isolated incidents but appear to have been orchestrated by someone within the UPND.

It also brings into question the hiatus between the top leadership in the UPND and its foot soldiers on how to deal and relate with the opposition parties during national events.

It is foolhardy for whoever is orchestrating these divisions that the opposition parties will vanish from the scene on account that they have as much right to exist as the ruling party.

Our advice is that the UPND needs to heal as it appears to be suffering from a lack of confidence on how it should relate with the opposition parties.

It should not the same old story of ending caderism when reality shows otherwise.