Let’s unite, kick out UPND – Katete youth
By Richard Luo in Katete
LET’S work together and kick this government out of power to end the violence, says Katete district Patriotic Front (PF) youth chairperson Boyd Shilo.
Mkaika member of Parliament Peter Phiri, who was among PF youths participating in the Youth Day celebrations had to be whisked away to save him from a mob of United Party for National Development (UPND) cadres who attacked their procession.
Shilo was commenting on the violence that erupted between PF and UPND youths during the commemoration.
He said the UPND cadres provoked PFyouths when the noticed that they had been outnumbered.
“They felt unhappy that as an opposition party, we had more numbers than them. They resorted to violence because they felt we were embarrassing them,” Shilo said.
He said the PF youths tried by all means to refrain from fighting back, but the unruly UPND cadres kept beating them until they decided to protect themselves.
“We never participated in the event in peace. Our day here was spoiled because we were attacked by the UPND youths during the march past. We tried to refrain but they kept beating our people until we had no alternative but to defend ourselves,” Shilo said.
He said the PF managed to whisk away the member of Parliament for MP Phiri to prevent the UPND youths from harming him.
“The good part is our youths managed to whisk away our member of Parliament without being hurt.”
Shilo said the huge turn out of PF members on any government or public event showed that the UPND was unpopular and was packing bags in 2026.
He said the UPND government had made many promises to the people of Zambia like working on the Katete-Chanida Road which it had failed to fulfill, only working on three kilometres out of a 52 kilometre stretch.
“UPND needs to work on its campaign promises. Here in Katete, they promised Katete-Chanida Road, but only did three kilometres out of a 52 kilometre stretch. At the moment the contractor has abandoned the road. So, let the government fulfill the campaign promises and people will regain their trust of UPND,” Shilo said.
He said UPND’s current style of governing Zambia made it difficult for it to win the 2026 general elections.
“As things stand here in Katete, people have lost hope. People have lost confidence in the ruling party. It has lost popularity here in Katete ,” Shilo said.
He urged all the youths and the women in Katete to work together as one to kick the UPND out of power in 2026.
“Let’s work together and kick this government out of power because it’s a government that has no heart for the people it is governing,” Shilo said.
And PF Sinda youth chairperson Pingilani Banda says the Youth Day is not a day for violence but a day on which youths should reflect on themselves and how they can develop their nations.
Banda was happy that the day in Sinda was well spent without any clashes between the two political parties.
“Our day went on well here in Sinda as Tonse PF Alliance participated in good numbers. That showed that PF is still there and that it is still strong on the ground,” he said.
UPND cadres went on rampage Wednesday during the commemoration of the Youth Day attacking opposition youths and leaders in Lusaka and other parts of the country.
Many stakeholders have condemned the violence and advised the UPND to provide leadership by respectingthe rights of other players in the political arena.
Banda said “Youths lack alot of things which I can’t say at the moment. When time to express or reveal what youths are going through comes, I will reveal,but for now, youths are going through alot”said Banda
A comment from the UPND youth in Katete failed as he reported he was in Lusaka and that he will delegate someone to respond.
While Sinda youth Emmanuel Mwale said he was busy and he would respond later.
