Saturday, April 20, 2024

Opposition boycotts Labour day celebrations

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FRA workers marching in Lusaka during Labour Day celebrations

Opposition parties were yesterday conspicuously absent from the Labour Day celebrations despite being invited by Government to be part of the event, which must normally cut across party lines.

The former ruling party, the Movement for Multi-party Democracy, United Party for National Development, United National Independence Party, National Restoration Party, Alliance for Democracy and Development and the Forum for Democracy and Development were all missing at the event.
Secretary to the Cabinet Evans Chibiliti said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that he invited all the opposition parties.
“Opposition parties did not honour the invitation but Government will continue to invite them to such important national events,” Mr Chibiliti said.

The only political party present at the celebrations was the Patriotic Front. Ruling party members were dressed in their party regalia.
The Labour Day celebration, graced by President Sata, is the first to be celebrated under the PF government.

[Daily Mail]

54 COMMENTS

  1. Why do these civilians try and march like soldiers when they are not trained soldiers?  They should just shuffle in front of these political Satanic kaponyas.  Don’t give respect where it is not due.

    • Because that is the condition for them to get the suits from their places of work. With poor salaries, one has no choice

  2. Yes what you want our educated men and women do there with kaponyas?Hope you enjoyed the sun shine.

  3. It was a PFooter Labour Day celebration.  There was no boycott.  PFooters used to do the same to MMD.  Tit for tat, although I am surprised that UNIP did not attend considering that their father stooping stoopid KK is in the thick of the PFooter action.

    • God instructs us to respect our elders. Honour your father and mother so that your days on earth can be long. I guess you wouldn’t want to argue with God on that would you?

    • God or no God it is rather shallow to insult when one can just make their point if they have one.

    • I think you need to respect our founding father mate. He’s old enough to be your grandfather and he has done a lot of good to our republic and africa as a whole. Bushe kanshi you cannot make a point without disrespecting someone? Leave Dr Kaunda alone because without his selflessness, you wouldn’t be where you are today.

  4. How much did GRZ waste on this day dressing up workers paying allowances,parties,transport ,prizes etc.Is the best way to spend meagre resources bafikamba?

    • The Govt does not pay any company to dress any workers, each company foots their own bill for this so don’t be decieved.

  5. yes it didn’t make any effect the presence of hh was not welcome.he is guilt now that the Govt has kept its promise by giving us civil servant a reasonable pay rise.viva pf ba zalila ba zalema.

  6. Oh, I missed something, same attire including shoes and one odd out with no shoes. Ladies, better march with no shoes because those shoes are not meant for marching with. Leave the left right to the police and soldiers who have proper shoes for doing so.but what is there to march for since more money has gone in PF pockets

  7. Its good the opposition were not there. You can tell from how peaceful everything went. Please opposition parties keep keeping away so we can have continual peace…

  8. Was this a workers’ day or political celebrations day? I think the parties that did not turn up did the right thing because it was not their day. It was a labour/workers day not political parties day.

  9. VIVA opposition. UKWA is the most lonely person on earth. I would feel insulted if such happened to me, but being UKWA I am sure he can’t think like that.

  10. this behaviour by opposition means nothing. you the opposition are failing to represent people in parliament. whether u boycott labour day celebrations or not, normal life goes on in Zambia. wise up opposition!

  11. Labour Day is for workers, not political parties. Govt should not politicize it.

    If political parties want to attend let them, if not, that’s ok too. Unless they are forbidding people who work for them from participating. This celebration should ne be for PF, MMD, UNIP, UPND et al. When we looked at it like that, you’ll find that everyone will be ok about it. It’s like going to church. It’s non-partizan.

    • You are right about freedom of choice for parties to participate. But the question is, why try to make a political statement by boycotting? I don’t think it is govt politicizing. It is those who boycott for political reasons. Anyway, it went on without them, and it went well without their provocative behavior.

  12. Suddenly, Ukwa has stopped celebrating the abscence of the opposition at such functions. He did not ask the gullible crowds to clap for the abscence of the opposition this time…………..lets keep watching as the beast gets more and more isolated.

  13. No sane person will lose sleep on the absense of the so called opposition parties! Infact, this NGO called UPND is completely irrelevant in Zambian politics! As for MMD it is defunct and has reached a state of complete ceasation of all vital party orgarns without capability of beng resucitated!

  14. Thats okay…jeez Government should not invite them to any other important celebration! it is through such celebrations that unity is shown. why do they detest the only party in government that is showing us that it has a listening ear!!??? MMD u can go to Hell with your non-sense!

  15. Labour day is for the workers not the opposition. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF THEY BOYCOTTED AS LONG AS THE WORKERS CAME. IFYA MABOYCOT MU AFRICA TAFIBOMBA BECAUSE THE EVENT WILL STILL GO ON AS IF NOTHING HAPPENS

  16. we don’t mind them not attending. actually it was very peaceful without them. PF govt should not lose sleep over them.

  17. Nice legs from FRA women, tho, as for the opposition, MMd needs more time to reflect on their loss than attending such functions, lets allow them. As for UPND, I sometimes, I cant even tell what they stad for, especially HH, now he could even opposse anything supported by Government!!!!

  18. Nice legs from our Zambia ladies matching. Ala kuti naba tomba aba..!!! Sweet “saysix” is wonderful!

  19. Boycott! Boycott!
    The opposition are falling into the trap of thinking that nothing can be done without them. Can somebody advise these opposition fools that boycotting important events is not a solution for any political differences they may have with the ruling party. We don’t want to hear master plans like boycotting the general elections, but the way things are going I cannot rule out some fool crying lets boycott the elections!

  20. Let them make themselves irrelevant. The people will take note of who was there when progress was being made. We keep moving, with or without them. If they boycott the elections, we go ahead as the sole candidates.

  21. Since UNIP became opposition and initiated boycotts,what or when did boycotts ever solve or uplift the status of any opposition political party?In Zambia and our situation,winner takes all,whether losers boycott or not it makes no difference,they can only make a difference when they make the selves relevant

  22. I actually thank them for boycotting for it’s good riddance. They only bring confusion. I hope the boycott even the elections and other future celebrations so that government can concentrate on improving the welfare of Zambians. Like we gonna miss them! For what?

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