The tragedy of caderism in politics
Dear Editor, It is sad to note that in nearly 60 years of our independence, caderism has been allowed to play a central role in politics by those who benefit from their services.
The clear implication of this apprehension is immense and creates various human risks. Cadres have always been bad news they are known for. From the UNIP reign they came in by the name of vigilantes who promised those who failed to line up behind Dr Kenneth Kaunda the then President to “go by air.”
This meant offenders would roughly be tossed up in the air as a form of punishment. Exit UNIP enter MMD, the issue of cadres was however not much of an issue as in PF and now UPND.
Why now this debacle has been allowed to grow to this dangerous level, posing risks to the citizens, is unclear. What however is clear is that it is a rotten concept which must be shot on sight.
During the PF administration, the cadres were feared for their fearlessness as they were untouchables. They grabbed land even from poor widows without fear or shame since police too feared them.
They became fiercely profane as they dozed off on beds of Kwacha bank notes which in some instances they torched to make their point known.
For this, I think PF should be the last to condemn caderism because it is the same monster they embraced.
Sadly, UPND has decided to toe the same line as its cadres are raining acts of terror in the same fashion.
We all saw what happened to opposition cadres in Chongwe and elsewhere during the just ended Youth Day celebrations.
This is despite UPND promised to end caderism during its campaign trail but to no avail. It's back to the old days when people had to take cover each time these savages showed up. And from the look of things, caderism will be hard to kill because of whatever services they offer to those walking in corridors of power. I can safely deduce that cadres will be our permanent feature until the return of Christ. Maybe, only maybe, our Parliament could propose a law to outlaw caderism in our politics. We all must admit the behaviour of these cadres is no better than that of common criminals.