By 
People suspected to be cadres of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) were on Saturday seen in Mandevu Constituency, as the rally called by the New Heritage Party was stalled by armed policemen at the Chipata grounds.
The cadres, brandishing dangerous weapons, were seen being transported to the rally site in Chipata Compound.
Early on Saturday, June 1, battle-ready and armed Zambia Police officers had arrived in several trucks to forestall the proposed pro-democracy rally.
Jackson Silavwe, United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) Chairperson for Communications, alleged that since President Hakainde Hichilema came to power in August 2021, no opposition political party had managed to hold a mass rally.
“President Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) have been able to hold rallies at will,” Silavwe said.
He queried why the police tolerated armed UPND cadres roaming freely in the constituency.
“President Hichilema has always stated that he had ended cadreism,” Silavwe remarked.
The aborted gathering was termed, “In Defense of Democracy” rally.
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