Gary Nkombo: When UPND Vampires Feed on Their Own

The Zambian political landscape, often characterized by fervent partisanship, has once again come under scrutiny following a critical piece by Kapya Kaoma, originally penned in December 2021. Kaoma's article, provocatively titled “Ballyvampires Ravage Kabwata As President Hakainde Sings Kumbaya!”, casts a harsh light on the alleged violent tendencies exhibited by cadres of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND). This commentary resurfaces concerns about political intolerance and the potential for intra-party strife, even as the nation strives for a more peaceful and democratic governance. Kaoma's central thesis posits a stark contradiction between President Hakainde Hichilema's public pronouncements on peace and unity, often encapsulated by the 'Kumbaya' sentiment, and the reported actions of some UPND members on the ground. The specific context cited is the Kabwata parliamentary by-election campaign, a period often fraught with heightened political tensions. The author's use of the term “Ballyvampires” is a potent metaphor, suggesting that these cadres are not only feeding on the political system but are also metaphorically 'vampirizing' the very ideals of their party and its leader. This critique extends beyond mere observation, delving into the implications of such behavior for Zambia's nascent democracy. Political violence, regardless of its perpetrator, has historically been a destabilizing force, undermining public trust in electoral processes and discouraging citizen participation. For a party that campaigned heavily on a platform of restoring law and order and ending cadreism, these allegations, if substantiated, represent a significant challenge to its credibility and moral authority. The article implicitly questions the party's internal discipline mechanisms and the effectiveness of its leadership in reining in unruly elements. The broader context of Zambian politics reveals a persistent struggle against political thuggery, a phenomenon