Maravi

Masaiti villagers boot out UPND cadres

Masaiti villagers boot out UPND cadres
By Zumani Katasefa in Kitwe
Wednesday August 27, 2008 [04:00]

VILLAGERS in senior chief Mushili’s area in Masaiti on Sunday chased away UPND cadres for allegedly campaigning for party leader, Hakainde Hichilema ahead of the presidential by-election. And chief Mushili of the Lamba people complained about the behaviour of UPND cadres who went to his chiefdom in Masaiti on Sunday to campaign.

One of the villagers, Norma Chiyaba, in an interview explained that UPND cadres in a vehicle registration number ABK 1490 were also distributing campaign fliers carrying the portrait of Hichilema, with the message ‘Vote HH for President’.

“They came here and we chased them because we were not happy with the way they were doing things. It is not in order to campaign when we are still mourning,” he said.
Chiyaba said he identified one of the cadres, a Mr Mulonda, as the person who led the campaign team.

“These people were openly telling people to vote for HH. They think Masaiti is an area for illiterate people who do not know what is happening in the country,” he said.
Chief Mushili said it was unfortunate that political parties had rushed into campaigns when late President Mwanawasa had not even been buried.

“Yes, I received that information. It was very wrong for UPND to conduct political campaigns during the mourning period. We need to mourn our brother peacefully,” he said.

Chief Mushili said the behaviour of UPND cadres had greatly annoyed subjects in his chiefdom who almost acted harshly against them.
But UPND national youth chairman Joe Kalusa said his party had sent two people in each district of the province to help ferry mourners to Ndola to view the body of the late President.

“No, it is not that these people were campaigning. We just sent them to go and put logistics in place. As UPND we are touched by the death of President Mwanawasa,” he said.

Kalusa said although the party was aware of some political parties who were on the ground having dark corner meetings to campaign for the presidency, it would not follow their foot steps.

“We want to mourn President Mwanawasa in peace. There is no way we can rush into campaigns when the whole nation is mourning,” he said.

Labels: CADRES, CHIEF MUSHILI, UPND

posted by MrK @ 5:15 AM