UPND ‘thuggery’ conduct slammed

THE unruly conduct of UPND cadres during a discussion forum on Bill 10 organised by News Diggerson Friday is disappointing and should condemned by all peace loving Zambians,a consortium of civil society organisations hassaid.

Young African Leaders initiative ( YALI) president, Andrew Ntewewe who represented the CSOs said at press briefing in Lusaka yesterday that the UPND’s conduct threatened the participation of those who hold divergent views.

He observed that the UPND had constantly raised issues of trusting the PF with regards to constitutional matters but wondered why they should behave in a thuggery manner during a healthy debate.

Mr Ntewewe questioned who should be trusted between unruly carders at a forum or a well-organised and divergent forum such as the NDF.

He advised News Diggers and those sponsoring the forum to put in place mechanisms to ensure such fora are not ulitilised as campaign platforms for expression of intolerant behaviour for those with opposing viewpoints.

And Lusaka Province Minster, Bowman Lusaka said he was disappointed that some civil society organisations who were working with the opposition had resorted to organiSing public events with the view to discrediting the Constitution Amendment Bill number 10 of 2019. Mr Lusambo said instead of being neutral some media houses and civil society organisations had partnered with opposition political parties to disgrace the bill.

He said the same groupings had failed to provide alternative arguments on how best to enhance the Bill and had embarked on a propaganda mission to mislead the public.

Mr Lusambo said Zambians should be wary of intention of organisations that were always opposed to things that were meant to benefit the people.