Without mincing his words, United Party for National Development (UPND) Secretary General Batuke Imenda announced the expulsion of all party members involved in violent acts and indiscipline.
Mr Imenda said those dismissed from the governing party include members of a notorious youth group known as the “Zaire Police” in Livingstone, as well as others from Mpika and Kitwe. He stated that such conduct will not be tolerated, especially since President Hakainde Hichilema has consistently warned against violence and cadreism.
“When we said no cadreism, we were not joking. If there are others who think this is just a fluke, I dare them to go ahead and do anything contrary to the discipline of our party,” Mr Imenda said.
He was speaking at a press briefing yesterday, where he revealed that despite the President’s firm stance on cadreism earlier this week, some members defied the directive.
“The President was candid that we are not going to tolerate cadreism—be it PF, be it TONSE, and even more so, the UPND itself.”
Mr Imenda noted that barely five days after President Hichilema warned against hooliganism, some individuals still disregarded the presidential order.
“So, where we stand today… all the cadres cited in these three incidents, who were involved in yesterday’s skirmishes, are dismissed from the party. We have dismissed them forthwith, and we will ensure they do not involve themselves in any party activity at any time,” he said.
He further ordered that those expelled must not be allowed to use UPND regalia to mistreat Zambians.
“We will not allow them to use the name of the party simply because it is in power, and act as though the people who voted it into office are inferior. We are saying no! No! No!
“If they want to go anywhere to misbehave, to display indiscipline in whatever manner they wish, let them go—even to the champions of violence. They are there.”
Mr Imenda said the decisive action marks the beginning of cleansing the party of bad elements.
“We are not going to allow them to make our party dirty when we said no cadres.”
He added that the party received reports that youths known as the Zaire Police, identifying themselves as UPND cadres, harassed people in Livingstone. The group allegedly intimidated Electoral Commission of Zambia staff conducting voter registration and demanded to be served first because of their party affiliation.
“The youths, clad in our regalia, began harassing people who were queuing. Some of them walked straight to the front of the line. The citizens found that unacceptable and resisted,” Mr Imenda said.
He added that the same group attempted to intimidate police who were deployed to maintain order, but the officers stood firm—resulting in one suspect being shot in the leg.
Mr Imenda also cited another notorious group on the Copperbelt accused of harassing innocent citizens, and a group in Mpika involved in vandalism while wearing UPND regalia—conduct he said will not be tolerated.
