By ADRIAN MWANZA
THE cadres who were collecting money from the streets of Lusaka are not our members and are trying to use criminality in the guise of the party, UPND spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has said.
Mr Mweetwa said that those who were arrested had no blessings of the party, in fact they were just masqueraders who wanted to tarnish its image.
He said that it had to be established that those were not genuine UPND cadres because the party had made it clear that no one should patronise bus stops.
Mr Mweetwa said there was metamorphosis at play and that some cadres that were in the PF had now changed to UPND colours.
“Genuine UPND supporters have heard the President’s call to stay away from criminality like harassing people in markets and bus stops,” he said.
He said that the UPND would not allow lawlessness to prevail in the country and that all those found wanting should be prosecuted.
Mr Mweetwa said drivers and marketeers needed to be vigilant and report the culprits to the police before the cancer spreads to other areas.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Lemmy Kajoba says police have been deployed in Markets and Bus Stations to ensure that there is no caderism and illegal collection of revenue, reports ZANIS.
In a statement sent to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Kajoba said the Zambia Police is committed to ensuring that there is mutual respect and cooperation between local authorities running the markets and the stakeholders in the bus stops and markets.
The Police Chief said President Hakainde Hichilema’s instruction that there should be no political cadres that promote illegal revenue collection in markets and bus stops.
Mr Kajoba said the instruction will be effected irrespective of political affiliations.
Mr Kajoba noted that he was aware that some individuals are masquerading as UPND cadres and are soliciting for money from traders in markets.
The Police Chief said the law will take its course on the criminal elements as the police are interested in applying the rule of law in line with the policy of the new dawn administration.
He commended the UPND leadership in Markets and Bus Stations for supporting efforts of curbing caderism and illegal revenue collections in markets and bus stations.
Mr Kajoba said police will ensure that peace , law and order is maintained as they check on the compliance levels of no caderism and illegal revenue collection in markets and bus stations. -ZANIS
