United Party for National Development (UPND) youths and their counterparts from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have vowed to proceed with the planned demonstration today despite police mulling over the notification.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of operations Bonny Kapeso told the youth leaders at a meeting on Monday that they would not be allowed to go ahead with the procession because the matter was before the courts.
Speaking at a joint media briefing at the UPND secretariat in Lusaka yesterday morning, the national and Lusaka youth leadership of the two political parties said they had resolved to proceed with the protests national wide whether the police like it or not.
The youths are demanding for the resignation of Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Judge Essau Chulu, his deputy Emily Sikazwe and the Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano for making unilateral decisions that favour the ruling Patriotic Front without consulting stakeholders in the electoral process.
The youths from the two parties are angered at the decision to discard the voter’s register and replace it with a new one which is initially being done online.
The youths argued that they would not sit and watch while the country continued to tilt towards a situation similar to the 2016 elections which left the country reeling on the verge of civil strife as a result of incompetence from the ECZ Chairperson Judge Esau Chulu.
UPND Deputy National Youth Chairperson Gilbert Liswaniso said the demonstration will be a reminder to those in authority that the citizenry will this time not accept Judge Chulu imposing a leader on the people of Zambia.
He charged that if deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of operations, Bonnie Kapeso, who has threatened to “break bones” of the youths wanted to flex his muscles and unleash the newly purchased armoured vehicles, they are ready for the challenge.
“We have a duty as UPND and NDC to remind those in authority that we don’t want Esau Chulu to give us a president like what happened in 2016. If exercising our constitutional right to protest demands that Mr Kapeso should test his newly acquired armoured vehicles, then we are ready to have our bones broken,” he said.
And NDC National Youth Chairperson Charles Kabwita said the country risked plunging into chaos if the current ECZ leadership was allowed to continue at the helm of the elections body.
“We will not allow this country to be put on fire by 2 people. This protest, with or without allowing it, we are going ahead because there is no provision in the Public Order Act (PoA) that stops people from protesting provided all the requirements for a protest are met,” he said.
UPND Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson Anderson Banda charged that “having satisfied the laid down requirements for conducting a peaceful protest,” the youths would proceed with the planned demonstration.
He stated that the youths would not allow the on-going online voter registration to continue and if the police want to murder and maim innocent citizens, they have been presented with an opportunity as the youths take to the streets tomorrow.
NDC Lusaka Province Chairperson Nachama Shimulunda called for the country’s youths to turn out in large numbers for tomorrow’s protest while his District Youth Chairperson Victor Mwansa warned PF Lusaka Province Youth Chairperson to abort his plan of disrupting the planned demonstration, warning of serious reprisals.
“Those who are planning to come and disrupt the protest, we will fight them. And for you Daniel Kalembe, go to Chisokone and ask them what we did to them,” he warned.
The reason for not allowing the youths to protest is given by the police as being that the case is in the courts of law and if they are allowed to protest they can prejudice the court process of the same. This reason is fair enough for the youths. Upnd and ndc just like to cause confusion in the country. They were called to attend a very important meeting over the matter so that they could iron out some of the concerns over the matter only to end up walking away. What do they want then?
Go out and protest on the 9th while the UK minister for Africa is in Zambia.
#Savuka.
Taba tinye
Taba tutole
Taba tudelele
#savuka.
If you love yourselves and your families don’t demonstrate. You are being ruled by a mafia government worse than the colonial government. Unless you are ready to sacrifice yourselves. Time to account is drawing closer, no matter how long it takes
I will be surprised if I see police, because we all heard them say they will be attending to other national issues.
Just stay away why court trouble? When the police retaliate you will be the ones crying.
As someone above has said, protest when the minister for Africa is visiting.
Also, protests can now be done digitally, especially with covid.
Alternatively, print out several T-shirts with whatever information you want, allow your protesters to simply wear them on a particular day and let them go on doing their business, there is no law against that. And you certainly can’t be charged.
@1st comment, the police said nothing about the case being in court, they cited lack of manpower.
PROTESTING IS A RIGHT, YOU DONT NEED POLICE PERMIT.
YOU JUST NEED TO INFORM IF NEED BE.
THE TRUTH IS CURRENTLY ZAMBIA LACK MORALLY UPRIGHT LEADERSHIP.
This is the f00lishness we talk about from upnd. It seems Ndc is a victim of peer pressure. I wonder how long before ndc and upnd start fighting. As everyone knows hh is difficult to work with or even impossible.
As for the youth please deft the police decision at your own risk. Do not blame us for the action that will be taken to restore peace and order.
United Ponio Nyio Dogs UPND
ZAMBIA A CHRISTIAN NATION – Try to read the article before exhibiting ignorance. The case is in Court courtesy of the same people who want to demonstrate. What is it that you don’t understand? Didn’t your leader refuse to be interviewed recently because he said his case was in Court?
…and yet PF have had a series of rallies and demonstrations against others.
You guys had the opportunity for dialogue but you decided to walk out of meeting, can we be civil for once. On the other hand, there is no reason for Hon. Judge E. Chulu to continue hanging in there at ECZ, find the clip for 2016 and watch him announce results for Lundazi, he is a disaster and should have gone without being reminded. why don’t people have shame in Africa?
The permit nonsense is a hangover from the colonial era. There is no where where a protest or demonstrate must have police oversight aside from their presence to safeguard property and lives. If they do not show up and mayhem breaks out they have neglected their duty to care.
Ba KZ bena ama shinsha yekayeka mumutwe .Tell Zambians about your IP address ?
Ba KZ bena amashinshya yekayeka mumutwe
Let the Zambian youths demonstrate to register their expression on what is going on with ECZ and feelings that judge Esau Chulu is unfit to continue leading ECZ. Esau Chulu declared MORE VOTES in Lundazi than those registered in the register. If youths can not protest they will do it in the bush as they did before. All this comes with a backdrop of break down of law and order and PF cadres kill Zambians at will like from the events presented in parliament by Steven Kampyongo, Home affairs minister describes total breakdown of law and order in Zambia. The reserve police officer Kampyongo refers to as having shot and killed a Zambian is a PF cadre who PF government has put into the police service so that PF is part of the Zambia police. Since when did a reserve police person handle live…
SHOW PEOPLE POWER …….. Power is in the hands of the people ……………….
Civil servants have suddenly become Gods :((