WHY THE DEFIANCE?

WE are surprised that the leadership of the United Party for National Development (UPND) has allowed the confusion in Chililabombwe to continue.The ongoing legal hearing in which 16 mealie meal traders have sued the party over its illegal move to stop them from trading is something the party should have stopped.Why should a party whose leadership believes in the rule of law even entertain a suit against it that clearly shows it was in the wrong?It is sad that local UPND officials in Chililabombwe have continued to defy a ruling from the Chililabombwe Magistrate’s Court restraining them from hindering some businessmen from trading in mealie meal on account of being aligned to the Patriotic Front.Yesterday, Magistrate’s Court ruled that the injunction granted to the 16 mealie meal traders to restrain the ruling UPND cadres from stopping them or interfering with their business in Konkola township is still intact and no UPND cadre should interfere with their operations.The court has also ruled that UPND Chililabombwe District Chairman Timothy Musonda should appear in court to answer contempt of court charges on November 4, 2021.The court made the ruling yesterday after the parties concerned were summoned for hearing of an application on behalf of the plaintiff to grant leave to commence contempt of court proceedings against the defendant, his servants or any other persons for reasons sufficiently stated in the Affidavit in support filed hereof.On Monday, October 4, 2021, the Chililabombwe Magistrate Court granted an interim injunction to the 16 mealie meal traders to restrain the ruling UPND cadres from stopping them or interfering with their business in Konkola Township of Chililabombwe district.But the UPND cadres continued to stop or interfere with the business of the 16 traders forcing them to complain to the court over the UPND cadres’ decision to ignore the court injunction.Just where do the UPND cadres in Chililabombwe draw their strength when one of the party’s top officials Mr Gary Nkombo for example described their action as being illegal and against its policy?It is ironic that UPND cadres at the grassroots are not moving in tandem with their top leaders on how to manage the August 12 electoral victory.While President Hakainde Hichilema has tried to fight caderism at markets and bus stations and other forms of retribution, the directives are ignored on the ground with impunity.The cadres, like Mr Musonda in Chililabombwe have that mentality of “winner takes all.” They wrongly believe that by virtue of their party forming the government, it gives them the right to “enjoy” what their colleagues did.The ongoing court case in Chililabombwe should actually be an embarrassment to the UPND leadership and the best they can do is to quietly settle the dispute.We know that dealing in mealie meal is a lucrative business in that part of the country what with the huge market in neighbouring Congo DR.There must be enough opportunities for all those interested in joining the business.The UPND should be building bridges and not creating animosity through unnecessary wrangles.