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Obama’s youth campaign manager tips Zambians

Obama’s youth campaign manager tips Zambians
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Kitwe
Tuesday, March 03, 2009 12:21:35 PM

UNITED States President Barack Obama's youth campaign manager Eric Casher has advised young people in Zambia to vote against political leaders who fail to deliver on their campaign promises.

Responding to questions from a predominantly youthful audience during a talk at Kitwe's Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation yesterday, Casher said staying away from voting in elections was not the solution.

The talk co-hosted by the US Embassy and Global Justice Zambia was held under the theme 'Youth rise to the power of voting'.

He said it was important for governments to be accountable to their electorate.

Casher expressed hope that President Obama would do his best in delivering on his promises.

"If they (political leaders) don't deliver, what you can do is to vote against them, not staying away from voting," Casher said.

He said young people played a key role during the campaigns prior to Obama’s historic election as the first African-American President of the United States of America.

"The beauty of the Obama campaign was that it was young people who made history; we had the highest youth turn-out than in any other election," he said. "It was a defining moment for our generation. It was too important for me to sit on the sidelines."

Casher, who was politically un-initiated before the campaigns of the 2008 US presidential elections, said the Zambian youth could make a difference in the 2011 elections.

"There's a larger number of first-time voters in the forthcoming elections and that could make a difference," Casher said.

He urged young people to participate in politics and reach out to fellow youths in electing their leaders.

Casher also encouraged youths to vote for their interests in political candidates as opposed to electing those who wield influence.

And US Embassy public affairs officer Christopher Wurst said the youth could play an important part in charting the course of the country by participating in its affairs, including voting.

And Global Justice Zambia executive director John Phiri told young people to link their struggles of access to health and employment to voting.

Phiri was among Zambians who were sponsored to monitor the United States presidential elections last November.

Labels: BARACK OBAMA, YOUTHS

posted by MrK @ 12:22 PM