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New Heritage Party (NHP) leader, Chishala Kateka, has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to ban caderism completely, saying government must move beyond “lip service” and stop protecting violent party cadres.
Kateka expressed concern over what she described as the resurgence of caderism to “unacceptable and alarming levels,” citing the attack on the Presidential motorcade in Chingola, the fracas at the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretariat in Lusaka, and the reported abduction of PF Acting President, Given Lubinda in Kabwe.
She told Zambia Monitor in an interview that these incidents reflected a growing threat that must not be tolerated by the Head of State.
Kateka said the police must be empowered to perform their duties professionally, including arresting cadres who break the law.
“Police officers must not be victimized or made to walk in fear of losing their jobs because of cadres,” she emphasized.
She added that the public and cadres must be informed that no money intended for councils or other institutions would be diverted to party cadres.
“If not controlled, these parties and their cadres could pull us into political turmoil and potentially even civil conflict. God forbid! This is not who we are as Zambians,” Kateka warned.
She further reminded that Zambians voted out the previous government over widespread caderism and would not hesitate to remove the UPND if the issue persisted.
Kateka argued that the current violence was not political but a financial turf war, comparing it to situations in Western countries where gangs control areas for profit.
“We have allowed cadres to control markets, bus stops, car parks, the selling of land plots, and other areas—activities that are against the law, as these spaces are supposed to be controlled by Councils,” she said.
She stressed that political violence would only be resolved when cadres are stopped from accessing “untaxed, easy money.”
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) has condemned the harassment of PF Acting President, Given Lubinda, by a group of youths in Kabwe, describing the incident as a violation of his fundamental rights.
HRC Chairperson, Dr. Pamela Towela Sambo, said the Commission was deeply concerned about emerging acts of political violence.
She said the harassment of Lubinda was dehumanizing, degrading, and a violation of his right to security and privacy.
“Yet again, the Commission is calling upon the Zambia Police Service to immediately arrest the masterminds and perpetrators of this violence, some of whom are visibly identifiable in the viral video showing the incident,” she said.
Sambo urged police to get to the root of the violence and enforce the law impartially.
“This is the only way to end this emerging cycle of politically motivated violence and lawlessness,” she added.
“Violence is a crime that undermines public order, safety and peace, and contributes to the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms,”
Sambo said.
She also called on political party leaders to discipline or expel members involved in acts of political violence.
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