Wed, 06 Sep 2017 09:56:10 +0000
By Aaron Chiyanzo
THE ruling Patriotic Front (PF) members in Kalomo district of Southern province are living in fear and have put party activities on hold because of the aggressive behaviour of opposition UPND cadres, PF district information and publicity secretary Frank Bwembya has said.
Mr Bwembya said that PF members in Kalomo district have not been free to participate in party activities for fear of being spotted and targeted by unruly UPND cadres.
He said that the opposition party cadres had on several occasions intimidated perceived PF sympathisers and that members were now living in fear.
Mr Bwembya pointed out that Kalomo was a small town, hence PF members and sympathisers feared being traced to their homes by UPND thugs.
He emphasised that there was a high possibility that PF members in other towns of Southern province were also living in fear, even though they were not coming out in the open.
Mr Bwembya explained that UPND cadres especially in Kalomo district have been aggressive towards staunch PF members and that once active members had now been shunning party activities.
“Yes, it’s that bad here my brother. Our members are living in fear. They have even stopped attending party functions for fear of being spotted and targeted, let alone you can’t even walk around in party regalia unless you want to be beaten,” he said.
Mr Bwembya disclosed that some UPND cadres in the district had after the 2016 elections vowed to deal with individuals who were in support of the ruling party.
He said that there was fear in Kalomo district that the promise by the UPND cadres was now coming to pass as some PF sympathisers had been reportedly brutalised in the recent past.
Meanwhile, Mr Bwembya strongly condemned the unimaginable behaviour by some UPND cadres in Kalomo district.
He reiterated that it was wrong for UPND members to intimidate PF members and sympathisers as people had a right to belong to any political party despite their geographical location.
