PF in Chipata warns violent MMD cadres

PF in Chipata warns violent MMD cadres
Written by Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 5:17:45 PM

THE Patriotic Front (PF) in Chipata District has warned that they will retaliate if MMD cadres continue to beat its party officials. And the PF in Chipata said they will endorse party leader Michael Sata's candidature for the 2011 presidential election.

The PF members who stormed The Post newspapers office in Chipata last Saturday said it was sad that the MMD government had decided to ignore the violent behaviour of their cadres.

District youth chairperson Mung'omba Ngoma said the PF had the muscle to take on the MMD cadres on an-eye-for-an-eye or fist-for-fist basis.

"Let them continue doing what they are doing. We are watching them and will confront them. You know if you use violence as a measure the same violence will be used against you. Particularly here in Eastern Province we are very alert, we are watching them. Should anyone beat up a PF official we are going to retaliate. So this is a message to them," Ngoma said.

He said the MMD should know that every Zambian wanted to enjoy peace.

"They should not think that we are so disgruntled as a party that we cannot take them on. Let those who use the youths know that these cadres are not political tools to be used in violent activities because these same people can be used against them. And they can only realise that what they were doing is bad when it is too late, when they are in UTH," Ngoma said.

District secretary Kazembe Daka said any progressive government ought to protect the life, liberty and the property of its people.

He said what the MMD cadres were doing was extremely bad and that the PF would retaliate if the trend continued.

Daka said the PF in the province would endorse Sata's candidature for the 2011 elections.

"We are having a meeting early next week as a party in the district. We are going to discuss a number of issues but we are going to endorse Sata's candidature for 2011 elections because we feel Sata is a symbol of cohesion in the party. We can't look for another candidate, we want Sata who is a symbol of a soldier who is fighting for liberties of the people," Daka said.

District women's league chairperson Christine Mkandawire said there was need for the party to have elections at district level because some people wanted to bring confusion.