CSOs call for mass protests
… PF warns against anarchy
A CONSORTIUM of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has asked Zambians to burn tyres and protest against what they have termed “abuse of public resources by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.”
But PF Media Director Sunday Chanda has described the calls by the CSOs as reckless and misplaced.
Mr Chanda said it was unfortunate that CSOs were trying to bring chaos in the country by inciting citizen to rise against Government over fabricated stories by some opposition.
He however, indicated that Zambians were not dull people and could not be easily swayed to believe lies.
Mr Chanda advised the CSOs to instead do their homework, before they could mislead the general public.
“Their statement is not only misinformed but highly politicised. Let the CSOs do their homework, because they are reacting to a leaked document which first made its appearance on Zambian Watchdog some years back, this is evidence that they are pursuing a politicised agenda,” Mr Chanda said.
The CSOs have accused President Edgar Lungu and the PF Government of being reckless in the use of public resources and have since vowed to stage countrywide campaigns of signature collections and ensure citizens rise against Government.
This came to light during a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday, where CSOs among them Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) , Action Aid-Zambia, Alliance for Community Action, Civil Society Initiative for Constitutional Agenda (CiSCA), Oasis Forum, Non-Governmental Coordinating Council (NGOCC) and Women for Change among others were present.
CiSCA Chairperson Bishop John Mambo said it was about time that Zambians rose up and demanded for what was theirs.
Bishop Mambo said the story published by a local tabloid on March 14, 2018 alleging that there was rampant abuse of public resources during Presidential International trips, including other alleged misapplication of public resources could not be overlooked.
He has since called on Zambians to burn tyres and protest as a way of stopping the alleged abuse of public funds by the PF Government.
And ACA leader Laura Miti said that protests would stop Government from allegedly abusing public resources.
Meanwhile in a speech read on behalf of the CSOs, CCZ general secretary Emmanuel Chikoya charged that limited resources available for service delivery were allegedly not reaching the poor.
Reverend Chikoya said Zambians should rise up and demand accountability, starting from the local level and going up to the highest office in the land.