PF youths on the Copperbelt together with their colleagues from the UPND have issued a joint statement denouncing political violence.
Nathan Chanda who spoke on behalf of the ruling party said youths in the Copperbelt want to reaffirm the party’s leadership’s resolve to have violent free campaigns.
He said the two parties were issuing a joint statement because they wanted to show their followers that there is need to stop the current political violence that has rocked the country in the recent past.
He explained that the joint statement was meant to show their followers that there is need to accept divergent views from political opponents without engaging in physical confrontation and that there is need to co-exist as Zambians.
He said youths in the country need to demand for issue based campaigns as opposed to character assassination and name calling adding that even when it comes to the worst violence should not be the answer.
And his counterpart from the opposition UPND Kelly Jibinga said youths return the responsibility that various political players have invested in maintaining the country’s peace and the attainment of the multiparty democracy that Zambia is currently enjoying.
He said youths of today should not be the destroyers of the democracy that many political party leaders and other stakeholders have invested by engaging themselves in political violence.
He said his party will advocate for tolerance of divergent political views and that youths should came to the realization that it is healthy for the country to have divergent political views.
He called on youths from all political parties in the country to refuse to be used as tools of political violence by a few individuals who themselves do not participate in the fighting.
The two parties have since organised a football tournament for youths from all political parties as a show of solidarity to the fight against political violence..
Wellcome move bravo youths.
I like that. Thats a noble thing to, really.
noble thing to do, really..
I doubt the PF youth consulted their superiors before they met their UPND counterparts. Truth is PF has violence as part of strategy to win Aug 11, 2016. The more apathy they can create, the better for them. Left alone without sponsors, PF youth are actually a good lot to have a beer/ Jameson with.
I can’t use soccer for reconciliation, it’s one emotional sport, imagine a penalty awarded to upnd and every pf cader will scream murder! i would have preferred if they could use boxing, one on one sport, TKO you opponent is dusted.
That is a good move.
However, let them not organise a football tournament because that will be the breeding ground for controversy which they may not be able to resolve amicably; and consequently may brew chaos.
WHAT A BRILLIANT INITIATIVE BY OUR CHILDREN! THIS IS SPLENDID! UNITY IN POLITICAL DIVERSITY. OUR CHILDREN HAVE SET A PACE, LET US THE ADULTS EMULATE THIS WONDERFUL MOVE. BRAVO UPND AND PF YOUTHS. LET US ALL WALK THE TALK OF A PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN. GOD BLESS ZAMBIA.
Good move. If this is true, then it must be supported by all well meaning Adults. The theme should be: ULUBULI FIKO – Bemba (Fighting is dirt). This theme should be translated in different languages and banners put up at this football match. As the old adage goes: – ‘IF IT IS TO BE IT IS UP TO ME’.
That is the way to go! We used to say in Bemba “ulubuli fiko!” Please spread the message country wide!
That is true leadership from the youths. Salute!!!!!!
I SALUTE YOU YOUNG MEN. DO NOT BE USED BY SELFISH POLITICIANS. ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION.
THE INSTIGATORS OF VIOLENCE ARE THE POLITICIANS WHO PAY THEM TO FIGHT.INFANT MOST OF THE FIGHTS ARE STAGE MANAGED BY THE YOUTHS TO JUSTIFY THE FEES THEY CHARGE THE “AMA BOSSES” BY BEING BRUTAL.
I said it several times before that old men cause wars and its the young who go to the battle front to fight and die. Great that the young people have realized this and want to make a difference.
Now you youths are talking, that is the way to go. You can see that you have been used as tools of violence by these politicians while you wallow in poverty whether you are in the ruling or opposition. Let the politicians fight themselves. they know why the do it at the end of the day, but for you even if you fight your fellow youth, both of you have gained nothing in the end. employment = zero, food = zero but perpetual poverty.
…it can even add more weight if Frank Bwalya would withdraw the case in which he claims to have been harassed…
You are not a good scrutinizer. Father Bwalya is not claiming, he was actually beaten-up. What needs to be done here is for the UPND leadership to issue an apology to Bwalya. Then we will see if they mean well and do not support violence like their youths say.
@ Scrutinizerer,
Well spoken. You are spot on. If Father Frank Bwalya could do that, then he would reclaim a bit of respect as a Priest. If anything, Father Bwalya should have been the main driver of this progressive and peace-making thinking the Youth have come up with. But he has been so antagonistic its hard to see how on earth he became an ordained Priest who is supposed to teach “..Blessed are the peace makers … ”.
@Asigai,
You have missed the plot, my young friend. Scrutinizerer is absolutely right. Here is why:- If PF insist on an apology first from UPND, then PF should lead by example by first apologising for attacking and stripping that defenseless young girl on Youth day in broad daylight in from of the Vice president and the Police who did nothing. “Do unto others as you…
@Asigai….
….any case which has not been thru and concluded by a judicial process is termed as ‘alleged’…have you got scientific proof that FB was beaten..??…you probably just read online….
Thickneck Chimbwili Kashimba must be peeing in his pants. These young people are also politicians but they realise that politics is not war but service. Its thieves like thickneck & Frank Bwalya who think its war who instigate violence.
Strangling a chicken is animal cruelty and a form of violence.
Viva Nathan, wish you the best for Roan.
Well done young people on the Copperbelt. You must shine your torch of peace throughout the country. It is your future and that of your children that you are working for. Our fight should be of ideas and not physical. One good thing I have learnt in Mozambique in a province where the opposition is strong all major political parties campaigned together in Beira. The impact of that action was peaceful campaigns. Thank you again, youths, for providing leadership. Ignore all those that want to use you for their selfish benefit.
KIKIIKIKIKI
SO YOU SEE IT WORKS TO HAVE A “MILITIA” AS A COUNTER.
THAT IS THE LANGUAGE PF UNDERSTANDS.
GBM KNOWS.
Welcome move. Now we need to hear from the police. These are the ones who fuel up minor things into big confrontation matters. ZP redeem yourselves and renounce the violence. After ZP, we need the boys from Lusaka and Monze to follow suit.
God Bless Zambia.
It is a welcome move by the youth of both Parties. It is gratifying to know that there are still some dissent people remaining in PF. The opposition should watch out all the same, PF led by F Bwalya may have something up in their sleeves. A fair referee can only come from FDD.
I choose to differ with you, the only referee if wisdom, mature politics and fear of God. Anyone should also be free to visit any part of the country to express some political views. Southern province should not be seen as a province only for HH. It is part of Zambia. We do not need to have passports to go to SP to do politics, when HH can go to any other part of the country freely. HH has never condemned what his cadres are doing to stop other political going into SP freely. How does he expect to gain similar support from other provinces. When this is issue is raised it will backfire against his campaigns in other provinces because he too will have to be stopped from freely visiting other provinces. This will also be a source of further political strife.
I meant decent (not dissent)
@ Asigai, you have totally misunderstood my point , the youths on the Copperbelt have organised a football tournament from all political parties as a show of solidarity to the fight against political violence. In any game of football (soccer), there is always a referee or umpire to make sure that soccer rules are followed by the players. In a humorous way I said this referee or umpire should come from FDD since FDD as a Party is not so much involved in most of the political violence we have witnessed so far. For you to say ‘the only referee is wisdom, mature politics and fear of God’ is an indication that you are not following the deliberations and everything else you said is off the mark. You can’t play football relying on wisdom, mature politics and fear of God, where on earth.
Sp is free for non violent cadres and other politicians. F Bwalya was paying for his sins. It is his mouth that brought him trouble.
Ask Nawakwi how friendly is sp.
F Bwalya and Mumbi Phiri can not be free in sp because of their mouths that justifies beatings of upnd members elsewhere.
Otherwise SP is free and has peaceful people.
Why are talking about S/P only what about Eastern Province where HH was flushed out by the Police and their Boss Kaminamisa, is that being fair
HH is only tasting his own doses of regional politics. That what we mean that his tactics will backfire. He cannot eat with both hands. Her does not want other political parties in SP, he should enter other provinces. Those people you in pictures in EP are only inquisitive onlookers. How can you really go into EP with all those shirtless cadres. You are insulting the integrity of the people there. They are very civilised and well mannered. HH should not take his bad mannerisms to EP.