Maravi

Simfukwe counsels youths

Simfukwe counsels youths
By Kombe Chimpinde
Mon 21 Feb. 2011, 04:00 CAT

YOUTHS will continue crying foul unless political parties find a best formula for adoption to allow them equal participation in elections, says Mwalimu Simfukwe.

Addressing youths from various parties at a workshop organized by Anti-voter Apathy (AVAP) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) in Kasama, Simfukwe who is Northern Province Permanent Secretary said this year’s elections were going to provide both an opportunity and challenge in that adopting candidates for elections in parties had become problematic for them because of many controversies.

Simfukwe said there was a growing trend for parties to incline to candidates who were financially able as opposed to their leadership qualities.

“Going by this theme, we must remind ourselves that the 2011 elections can pose both a challenge and opportunity to aspiring youth candidates and voters,” Simfunkwe said.

He however said the youths should exhibit leadership qualities and courage to contest elections on suitable positions.

“The future of political parties lies in the youth leadership. Indeed, you are the solid foundation of your respective political parties and you should remain focused and committed,” Simfukwe said.

And Simfunkwe told the youths that were gathered that political violence was not part of democracy which Zambia embraced.

“We must reach a level of political maturity and counsel ourselves that elections should not make us enemies. Whether it is physical or verbal violence, we should learn to resist so as to promote peace. I wish to call upon the youths not to be used as instruments for violence during election campaigns. You should resist temptation and ask your senior party leaders to use you as ambassadors of clean and issue based campaigns,” Simfukwe said.

AVAP executive director Bonnie Tembo expressed gratitude at the support it had received from FES to build capacity among the youth.

“I want to acknowledge the support AVAP receives from the FES since 2001 from 2001. With this support, AVAP has trained a lot of youth drawn from both the ruling and opposition political parties. We have a proud and talking record for our success story,” Tembo said.

Labels: MWALIMU SIMFUKWE, YOUTHS

posted by MrK @ 7:31 PM