YALI lectures Kasolo

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has described as saddening directive by newly appointed Information and Broadcasting permanent Secretary Chanda Kasolo that all political parties nominate one member to become point of contact during power transition period.

In statement to Qfm News YALI governance advisor Isaac Mwanza has reminded Mr. Kasolo to be mindful that Zambia’s Constitution guarantees all citizens the right and freedom to freely express themselves.

Chanda Kasolo

Mr. Mwanza states that the directive by the Permanent Secretary is therefore dictatorial as restricting the right to comment to one person within political parties will stifle political debate within and outside political parties.

He says much as YALI recognises that political parties have spokespersons, in the situation where people are competing for various interests and holding divergent views citizens must be allowed to freely express themselves.

Mr. Mwanza says his organization thus finds the instruction by Mr. Kasolo as being retrogressive to the country’s democratic discourse and political activism among political parties.

He says it is for this reason that YALI is calling upon Zambians with different political views to ignore the directive by the Permanent Secretary and freely express themselves.

And Mr. Mwanza notes his organization is getting concerned about racist comments and placards that members of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) having been displayed against acting president Guy Scott.

He says YALI is also saddened by the comments of some senior leaders from the ruling PF suggesting that Dr. Scott must be deported to Scotland.

The YALI governance advisor states that his organization feels the actions of women and youths from the ruling PF that were displaying racial placards, leaders from both the PF and the Female opposition Members of Parliament who issued racist remarks must be reprimanded by their political parties.

He says his organization is reminding such cadres and leaders that Dr. Scott was born in Zambia and therefore he is as Zambian.

Mr. Mwanza says YALI is thus calling appealing to leaders of the PF, especially the Secretary General, Edgar Lungu to strongly come out and condemn the racial sentiments by members of his own political parties and assure the nation that his party will not allow the discrimination of any persons.