The Sweet Life of a Cadre: How Markets and Bus Station Revenue Funds Political Hooligans

It is nothing new that the life of a cadre in Zambia is a particularly lavish one. From the flashy cars to the humongous houses; It is evident how being a cadre is sometimes joked about as being the ‘best’ job in Zambia. Police fear them, youths on the street want to be them… All it takes is an intimidating stature, a crafty mind and enough influence in the ruling party, and voila! You’re in the league. But one would wonder, where do cadres in Zambia get all the money they extravagantly spend and sometimes boastfully throw to the poor voters during campaigns? Well, some know someone who knows someone in government who throws construction or supply contracts to them…....