Maravi

MMD, PF cadres clash

MMD, PF cadres clash
By Brighton Phiri and Nomusa Michelo
Tuesday March 13, 2007 [02:00]

MMD and opposition Patriotic Front (PF) cadres yesterday exchanged blows and insults during the commemoration of the Youth Day after the police blocked PF youths from proceeding to the presidential salute dais at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka. And President Mwanawasa has directed youths never to allow themselves to be used as tools by politicians.

Confusion erupted after PF youths lifted one of their colleagues in a disused bath tab, which they used as a canoe - the PF symbol - with a caption "PF for 2011", as they headed towards where President Mwanawasa was saluting the youths. The PF cadres' act attracted the attention of scores of Lusaka residents and pupils before they joined in chanting the PF slogan: "Ubwato...ubwato...ubwato,” meaning boat...boat...boat.

Activities at the presidential saluting dais came to a standstill for a few minutes as scores of police officers and some members of the diplomatic corps left their seats to rush where the PF cadres were performing their partisan marching. After a spell of inactivity, the master of ceremony called upon a youth representative Dambire Moyo to present her statement as the police negotiated with PF cadres to stop the act of boat peddling.

The confusion worsened when Lusaka Province police commanding officer Wazakaza Ng'uni commanded his officers to mount a human wall to block PF cadres from proceeding to the presidential salute dais. As Ng'uni issued orders, PF cadres remained unmoved and confronted the police officers. As some PF cadres sought an explanation on why their youth squad was blocked, others broke into chanting PF campaign slogans. At this stage, the MMD youths who were behind in line of marching squads, ran out of patience and confronted PF cadres, accusing them of embarrassing President Mwanawasa and the government.

In the process, a fracas erupted. One PF cadre unleashed a blow on an unsuspecting MMD cadre, who also retaliated. The police led by their Commissioner Francis Kabonde intervened and separated the fighting cadres. "We cannot allow these criminals to disturb this ceremony," screamed a MMD cadre before receiving an uppercut from a PF youth. At this stage, some onlookers and pupils scampered in different directions, causing a near stampede. One pupil was rushed to University Teaching Hospital after some people stamped on her as she retreated for safety. And behind the PF marching squad was opposition UPND youths who were blocked.

Ng'uni managed to negotiate MMD and UNIP youths' way past the police human wall and allowed them to march past President Mwanawasa, a move that angered UPND youths. After their plea to proceed fell on the police's deaf ears, UPND joined their PF counterparts in chanting anti-MMD slogans. Sensing the danger of disrupting President Mwanawasa's exit to State House, Ng'uni called for reinforcement of paramilitary officers, who upon their arrival forced out PF and UPND cadres from Independence Avenue, a street designated for youth marching. Few minutes after the police action, presidential security squad conducted a mock exit for President Mwanawasa using presidential motorcade. President Mwanawasa's motorcade drove past the angry youths, amid chanting: "Uyo wataba...uyo ataba... meaning look, he has ran away," from the aggrieved cadres and pupils.

And in apparent reference to PF cadres' behaviour, President Mwanawasa thanked various organisations that took part in the celebration and the Patriotic Front, which he said had added colour to the event. "The participation of the people of the boat has equally added to the colour of this event," he said. And President Mwanawasa called on the youths to say 'no' to being used as tools by politicians. "This year's youth day celebrations require that we intensify the strategies against this unjust world economic order to have an impact on poverty and joblessness. This means that we cannot address all the youth problems in our country without youth participation," he said. "Therefore the youths should not be seen as followers but should insist that they should say no to being used as tools by politicians but should be given opportunities where they can find jobs and be able to create wealth for themselves and the nation."

He said the youths in Zambia faced a number of challenges, which needed them to rise up and participate efficiently and effectively in job and wealth creation. President Mwanawasa said youths in the colonial era were able to significantly contribute to the attainment of Zambians political independence, so it was incumbent that the youth of today made themselves available and resourceful to help address the country's current struggles toward making it a middle income earning country. "These may seem too difficult and therefore unattainable but with the level of gallant commitment, nationalism and sacrifice that manifested during the political struggle by the youth of Zambia, the country should be able to rise above these challenges and win the war against the current difficulties," he said.

And President Mwanawasa said the government had reaffirmed its commitment by prioritising youth issues as reflected in the recently launched Fifth National Development Plan. President Mwanawasa said the process of disbursement of the youth development fund had reached an advanced stage and that the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development had been working tirelessly to develop the legal framework and administrative mechanism for the disbursement of the fund. He also said the government was committed to establishing more youth resource centres and expanding existing infrastructure as well as upgrading training facilities.

And President Mwanawasa said the process of recruiting street youths through the Ministry of Sport Youth and Child Development and the Zambia National Service training programme was underway and expected to recruit 650 youths this year of whom 250 would be girls. He said 204 street youths graduated from the 2005 programme and were being settled in various economic sectors. President Mwanawasa said the government was committed to agriculture in which the role of the youth could not be overemphasized. He also said tourism was another critical sector that young people could take advantage of. Youth and sport minister Gabriel Namulambe called on the youths not to allow themselves to be used as tools of destruction. He said Youth Day was an opportunity of the youths to say what they thought should be done to their country.

And delivering the message on behalf of the youths, Matero Girls High School pupil Dambire Moyo said there was need to review the education curriculum up to university level to tailor it to the needs of the country as well as increase access. Dambire said there was need for the youth to be given life management skills so that youths could better handle social problems. And home affairs minister Ronnie Shikapwasha described the behaviour of PF cadres as atrocious. Asked if there was anything wrong with the PF displaying their party symbol, Lt Gen Shikapwasha said: "Everybody had flags there is nothing wrong with having the symbols; like you saw UNIP had symbols but they did not bring a vehicle. But if you go beyond the regulations that are given then you will be stopped. You cannot expect to do it the way you want to do it."

Labels: CADRES

posted by MrK @ 6:50 AM