LOOMING YOUTH REVOLUTION IN UPND

UPND leaders, including President Haka inde Hichilema are treading on a thin line when it comes to youths within the rank and file of the party structures.

In Lusaka, UPND is stronger in Kanyama than any other constituency. The other day, we saw some youths from one ward protest, calling for the resignation of Local Government and Rural Deelopment Minister Garry Nkombo and the Party’s Secretary General Mr Batuke Imenda.

I love Garry but immediately I saw him start embarrassing some youth leaders on camera, I knew it was just a matter of time before youths rise against him.

First, he embarrassed one of the most respectful youth leader at Intercity commonly known as ba Emma, second, he embarrassed another strong youth leader from Matero at Buseko market Osborn (in picture) and third, the uprooting of mobile booths has just added salt to the wound among youths.

In UPND circles, Kanyama is called “Baghdad” because there you find serious conflicts and cartels within UPND structures but again they can unite for a common cause. Garry and Imenda can be removed by Kanyama if they just mean to do it.

To me it’s clear the President crucified and sacrificed Garry by giving him that inistry. Why do I say so, the President knew that the issue of caderism was a thorny issue and his policy direction on caderism had consequences on him.

But being HH he was clever enough to assign the role to Garry. Garry is being hated not because he’s a bad person or doesn’t like youths but because he has to implement his boss’s directives.

Bo Imenda is someone I don’t know personally but is someone not fit to be a party Secretary General for a party that want to retain power. For President HH the man is ok, because HH will never put anyone who would challenge his intellect bo Imenda niba yes bwana.

To make matters worse, he doesn’t know many people, worse off youths, who truly suffered for the party, the mistake was to release ba Katuka into the Foreign Service.

UPND leaders in structures today are not respected by those that the President has appointed in government because he himself has directed those appointed not to treat anyone differently. Now take note: No political party in Zambia will survive with weak or without structures. President HH has rendered structures in UPND useless, that’s why you see him panic to campaign whenever there’s a by-election. With fully empowered structures plus the advantage of being in power, a President only goes in a by-election to make the last rally to cement what the structures have done but we see him camping for almost a week in by-elections, give that money you spend for a week to structures to work. Party officials are being chased and told off in these offices and you expect them to toil when it comes to elections? I honestly don’t see Garry Nkombo reaching 2026 as minister, he will either be fired or he will resign on his own. As we oppose you, it’s our wish that we oppose a strong government not a weak one, hence free advice: Empower your structures or face the inhouse youth revolution.