Three opposition political parties have vowed not to participate in this year’s Youth Day celebrations scheduled for March 12.
Opposition Movement for Multi party Democracy (MMD), United Party for National Development (UPND) and the National Restoration Party (NAREP) representatives in Eastern Province say they will not participate due to the unfavorable political environment prevailing in the country.
Eastern province MMD youth chairman Chembe Daka said his members will not participate as one way of showing displeasure against the manner in which their party president Dr Nevers Mumba is being treated.
He said it will be unreasonable for MMD youths to be celebrating when Dr Mumba is going through so many problems.
Daka said that the party will not risk taking their youths for the celebrations to be attacked.
UPND national youth chairperson Michael Chuzu said his party will not participate in the celebrations alleging that PF cadres are violent and don’t have respect for the opposition political parties and may attack them at the occasion.
NAREP youths in eastern province have joined the opposition MMD and UPND not to participate in the Youth Day celebrations which fall tomorrow.
NAREP provincial youth chairman Clement Mbewe said his members will not participate in the celebrations saying it is pointless for youths in the country to celebrate this day as they are starving due to lack of employment.
Mbewe has further said the opposition political parties in the country are not recognized in most national events such as traditional ceremonies.
But the Patriotic Front in eastern province has refuted claims by Daka that the party plans to attack opposition parties taking part in national events.
PF provincial vice chairperson Attan Mwamba has asked the opposition MMD to give proper reasons as to why they have decided not to take part in the youth day celebrations, because the ruling is a peaceful party and has no plans of attacking anyone.
Source: ZANIS
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