PARTIES URGED TO ADOPT MORE YOUTHS, WOMEN

POLITICAL parties in the country should consider adopting and funding more women and youth candidates that have shown interest to contest the August elections, says the Project Support Learners Zambia (PSLZ).

PSLZ Livingstone District Coordinator, Nyambe Mutete, said there were many women and youths that had shown interest to contest various positions in the forthcoming elections.

Mr Mutete said that as in the case of Livingstone Constituency, women and youths had shown interest to contest the parliamentary, mayoral and local government seats.

As such, Mr Mutete feels political parties must put into consideration the need to adopt more women and youths.

He was speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation in Livingstone.

"PSLZ would like to make a strong appeal to political parties to adopt women and youths and fully allow them to participate in 2021 general elections," he said.

And Mr Mutete has charged that the decision by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to reduce nomination fees was timely.

"This is a timely decision that is in the best interest of the people especially for women and youths who could find it difficult to participate in elections because of high nomination fees," he said.

He said that Covid-19 has negatively affected the economic welfare of women and youths and, therefore, ECZ's decision would result in an increased women and youth participation in August general elections.

This is a timely decision that is in the best interest of the people especially for women and youths who could find it difficult to participate in elections because of high nomination fees.