Socialist Party Youths Call on UN to Address Intimidation and Injustice Under UPND Rule
Kitwe… Friday January 24, 2025
The Socialist Party (SP) Youth League has expressed grave concerns over the treatment of opposition youths under the ruling UPND.
In a statement issued by Youth Deputy Spokesperson Lusambo Sconel, the party called on the United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur, Ms. Irene Khan, to address alleged injustices, intimidation, and suppression of freedoms during her visit to Zambia.
The Socialist Party accused the UPND government of creating a false image of democracy and good governance, while systematically undermining political freedoms, particularly among young people in opposition parties.
According to the statement, Socialist Party youths highlighted several key issues:
1. Threats and Intimidation
Opposition youths reportedly face regular threats and intimidation from members of the ruling party. This climate of fear, the Socialist Party claimed, has silenced many young voices and discouraged active participation in Zambia’s democratic processes.
2. Partisan Misuse of Public Facilities
The Socialist Party criticized what it described as discriminatory practices in public spaces such as bus stations. It alleged that young bus drivers not affiliated with the UPND were being excluded from operating at these facilities, depriving them of their livelihoods. The party condemned this as a misuse of public resources, calling for equal access regardless of political alignment.
3. Denial of Political Freedoms
The opposition also pointed to restrictions on their ability to hold political meetings, contrasting this with the freedom allegedly enjoyed by UPND officials. The Socialist Party labeled this a double standard that undermines democratic principles and favors the ruling party’s agenda.
4. Escalation of Political Violence
Violence during by-elections was cited as another pressing concern. Opposition candidates, particularly youths, have reportedly been harassed and attacked, a move the Socialist Party claimed was intended to discourage political engagement among young people.
The statement emphasized that these actions contradicted UPND’s campaign promises to end political violence, promote peaceful competition, and ensure equal access to public spaces for all Zambians. Instead, the Socialist Party accused the government of prioritizing power over the principles of democracy.
The party urged Ms. Khan to scrutinize what it described as a façade of democracy presented by the UPND during the UN visit.
“The lived reality for young people, particularly those in opposition, is far from the ideals of justice, equality, and freedom that Zambia claims to uphold,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, the Socialist Party reminded government that Zambia belongs to all its citizens, not just the ruling party.
It called on the UN Special Rapporteur to take an impartial stand and advocate for the rights and freedoms of Zambia’s youth.
IN PICTURES: A battalion of Police Officers block the opposition Socialist Party from holding a public rally in Kitwe on Saturday, 8th June, 2024, on the pretext that the Zambia Police on the Copperbelt did not have adequate manpower to marshal a political rally.
Socialist Party Youths Call on UN to Address Intimidation and Injustice Under UPND Rule
