UPND’S LAW, ORDER EMPHASIS RHETORIC – KASANKHA
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
THE continued violent behaviour by UPND cadres after President Hakainde Hichilema has repeated- ly emphasised on law and order shows that these pronouncements are just rhetoric and of no consequence, New Heritage Party Vice President, Samuel Kasankha has said.
And Mr Kasankha has expressed disappointment that instead of condemning violence, the UPND leader- ship was trying to defend its official, Mr William Banda’s irresponsible challenge to meet the others head on by justifying his remarks.
Mr Kasankha said the Kabwata fracas during and after the nomination process for the parliamentary by-election showed that the UPND had neither the will nor the power to fight caderism in its ugliest form.
He said it was sad that the UPND cadres were openly disregrading President Hichilema’s pronouncements during and after the nomination process for the Kabwata by-election.
“We are particularly sad- dened because while much has been made of the de- parture of the violent PF cadres, their replacement is effectively displaying behaviour that is brazenly dismissive of the electorate, who expressed their displeasure against such acts through the ballot.
“President Hichilema, has repeatedly emphasised law and order to which UPND cadres are openly non-compliant raising our
speculation that either the President’s words are rhet- oric or that in their own camp, UPND cadres believe the President’s pronounce- ments are of no consequence,” Mr Kasankha said.
He accused the UPND leadership of having pre- tended that their cadres were not violent when many citizens had complained about their violence.
“Sadly, from their time in the opposition to date, the UPND leadership has always pretended that their cadres are not violent. Many citizens pointed out in the past that party pres- ident Hichilema was never on record condemning in- stances of violent conduct by his party members even when he spoke generally against it. This remains the situation to date,” he said.
Mr Kasankha said the violent conduct in Kabwata constituency was no surprise because the people were forewarned by Mr Banda that they would ef- fect “citizen arrests” on op- position members, which easily graduated into beat- ing up their perceived “enemies.”
He however said his par- ty was disappointed by the UPND leadership for justifying Mr Banda’s inciting remarks.
“We did not believe it was all right for UPND elections chairman Gary Nkombo to try and cleverly defend Mr Banda’s irresponsible challenge to meet the others head on by telling us about the legality of citizen arrest! That was indefensible for a national leader because he ought to have known that the outcome would not be in his control,” he said.
He added, “We can there- fore safely conclude that the UPND have neither the will nor the power to fight caderism in its most ugly forms. We can also safely conclude that their current behaviour is well calculated to entrench themselves and suits their modus operandi.”
