UPND youths snub HH

UPND youths in Western Province have rejected calls by their party president, Hakainde Hichilema to take part in the planned protests. They said they would not be used as sacrificial lambs. This comes after Mr Hichilema went on air to urge his supporters, to rise up following calls for a protest by some youths. According to a statement issued and signed by youth leaders in the province, the youth believe the issues Mr Hichilema was raising did not require to be resolved through protests. The statement was signed by Mutukwa Imbwae from Nalolo, Sikumba Likando from Senanga, Michael Ikachana from Mongu, Inonge Mufana from Kaoma, including Monde Mutangelwa and Etambuyu Mubita from Sesheke. “As youths of Western Province, we have taken time to analyse calls and schemes being orchestrated by our party to put youths at the front of protests against the government over a number of issues in the country. “It is our belief that the issues being raised do not require our youths to be sent to the streets and as has been the tradition they resort to damaging public and private property as well as get injured or lose their lives,” youths said. They told Mr Hichilema that Zambians needed a roadmap or manifesto from the UPND instead of witchhunts against PF. They said the issue of gold was neither here nor there because there's no gold mine which was sold to the Sudanese. “As youths we won't take to the streets over that,” they said. The UPND youths said they were convinced that there had never been a day under the current regime that they had been muted on expressing their views and exercising freedom of speech. “The few artistes who have issues with the PF do not represent our interests. As UPND youths across the country, we want to engage in intellectual and healthy constructive debate with our PF counterparts to find solutions for this country. “We all desire to see Zambia develop and prosper and that will only be done via debating ideas. We call on you Mr Hichilema to create a platform for us youths in the party to be productive as opposed to using us as tools of violence and anarchy. The youth said they would not be put in harm's way for the sake of gaining a vote through their blood.