MMD, FDD youths call for conventions

YOUNG people will remain on the side-lines of politics as long as political parties continue to abrogate their party constitutions by failing to hold conventions, MMD and FDD youths lamented yesterday.

And a UPND youth has said youths need to have financial muscle to merit appointment to senior positions.

MMD national youth treasurer Geoffrey Mulenga said in an interview that the only way to increase the number of youths in influential positions in political parties was for the parties to hold conventions.

Mr Mulenga said without holding conventions to elect party leaders, elders would continue to hold senior positions as leaders usually appointed their peers when vacancies occurred in the political parties.

He urged young people in the political parties to advocate for conventions to contest for senior positions instead of being used as tools for political violence.

“Young people must stop accepting weapons when their leaders give them because they are intelligent human beings who understand that campaigns are done by word of mouth not using weapons,” he said.

FDD youth chairperson Clement Kangwa said it was unfortunate that young people had left the affairs of political parties in the hands of old people.

He said it was saddening that young people were only used for violence by selfish politicians.

UPND youth deputy national chairperson Gilbert Liswaniso said young people would only be given senior positions in political parties once they were financially stable.

Young people in political parties should advocate for conventions to contest for senior positions instead of being used as tools for political violence.