Maravi

PF youth leader warns against trading votes with last-minute developments

PF youth leader warns against trading votes with last-minute developments
By Darious Kapembwa in Kitwe
Sun 22 May 2011, 04:00 CAT

IT will be criminal for young people in mining towns on the Copperbelt to trade their votes with last-minute developments by President Banda and the MMD, says a PF youth leader.

Nchanga Constituency PF youth chairman Clement Bwalya said in an interview that young people needed to look back on how they have suffered under the MMD government before they decide to sell their votes at the last minute.

“Let us, as young people, look at how much we have benefited from our mineral resources at the expense of foreign investors in the mines. Here in Chingola most young people are roaming the streets because of the so-called outsourcing exercise which kicked out our own contractors and replaced them with foreign contractors who came with their own labourers,” Bwalya said.

“Let us all remember that when elections were far, we the young people protested against the poor conditions of service and salaries. But it was the same President Banda who directed KCM to fire the protestors. Let us remind them that most of us who are inclined to the opposition and had contracting companies in the mines have been thrown out on the streets and we have our families suffering. Please do not be swayed by last minute attempts when all along you have been neglected like animals at the expense of the investors in our own land. But remember, the darkest period is before dawn. Soon we will be liberated. Just hold on to your vote,” Bwalya said.

He said that trading votes with developmental projects was dangerous because it was the responsibility of any government to develop a country. He said it was sad that the MMD government resorted to vote buying tactics when people on the Copperbelt had been subjected to dilapidated public infrastructure caused by mining activities without remedial measures.

“Look at our brothers in Chambishi working in Chinese-owned mines, you cannot call that which they get as salaries. So against that background, we implore all our brothers in these mining towns to stand up and vote for Michael Sata who will bring back human dignity to all Zambians,” said Bwalya.

Labels: PF

posted by MrK @ 4:45 AM