The Socialist Party of Zambia has vowed to continue its revolutionary agenda despite the recent setback of losing in the just-ended three local government by-elections. In a press statement released on Friday, April 21st, the party acknowledged the temporal setbacks and loss but stated that it will not dampen its revolutionary spirit.
“The temporal setbacks such as our loss in the just-ended 3 local government by-elections will not dampen our revolutionary spirit as we endeavor to grow our party into a strong and popular formation,” said the spokesperson for the Socialist Party of Zambia, Frank Bwalya.
Bwalya further emphasized that despite the loss, the party would celebrate the strides they have made in popularizing the socialist agenda. “The main cause of our celebration is not the good votes our party received in the just-ended by-elections but the interest of our people in the socialist program,” he said.
The party believes that the just-ended ward by-elections in Chililabombwe, Lupososhi, and Serenje were characterized by illegalities and electoral malpractices, including violence, intimidation of political competitors and voters, and vote-buying sponsored by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND).
“The UPND again sponsored violence, intimidation of political competitors as well as voters and engaged in many electoral malpractices such as vote buying,” said Bwalya. He also mentioned that the UPND disregarded basic arrangements to facilitate peaceful campaigns, such as the agreed timetable facilitated by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Bwalya also highlighted the violent incidents that occurred during the by-elections, including an attack on the party’s leader Dr. Fred M’membe and other members in Serenje. “Our leader Dr. Fred M’membe and other members were attacked in Serenje and locked up by the police leaving the UPND members who perpetrated the violence scot-free,” he said.
In Chililabombwe, the party’s members were also attacked by the UPND, and the police were forced to lock up their members only to release them after the campaign period elapsed.
Despite these challenges, the Socialist Party of Zambia says it will continue to engage with the people peacefully and with respect so that more Zambians can appreciate the difference their party would make when given an opportunity to govern.
“We shall continue to engage our people peacefully and with a lot of respect so that more Zambians can appreciate the difference our party would make when given an opportunity to govern,” said Bwalya.
He further noted that the party’s members would not be discouraged and would continue to push for change. “Our members will not be intimidated. Instead, they are determined to continue pushing and all of us are ready to pay the price of opposing a corrupt and violent regime. It is aluta continua,” he added.
The Socialist Party of Zambia stated that free and fair elections would continue to elude them as the police and the ECZ behave as lapdogs of the ruling party. Nevertheless, the party’s members will not be discouraged, and they will continue to fight for their cause.
Pf offers the best alternative as it provides a mix of socialism and capitalism but if I had to choose between failed upnd and socialist party , I would go for the latter
Look at this UK troll he has no idea what it is talking about…it thinks false campaign slogans like more money in your pockets and borrowing up to your eyeballs from Chinaman is socialism!
Well said Tarino Orange,dats the truth.
To be fair to people its not the socilist agenda or non existent of one that may attract them or get interested in SP it more of an alternative to PF or the void left by them. PF like UNIP, MMD will go down into darkness because they never learned from the past and have not resolved their leadership vacuum…they still think they can sneak Lazy Lungu in again.
As for SP if people really knew what it was about I doubt very much they would be interested and its leader has never been a socialist infact he is a ruthless capitalist at heart.
“PF like UNIP, MMD will go down into darkness because they never learned from the past..”
“As for SP if people really knew what it was about I doubt very much they would be interested..”
We don’t learn too. Didn’t most people say UPND with HH will never rule Zambia. Was he not under five? Haven’t they eaten their own words in shame?
To be fair to people its not the socialist agenda or non existent of one that may attract them or get interested in SP it more of an alternative to PF or the void left by them. PF like UNIP, MMD will go down into darkness because they never learned from the past and have not resolved their leadership vacuum…they still think they can sneak Lazy Lungu in again.
As for SP if people really knew what it was about I doubt very much they would be interested and its leader has never been a socialist infact he is a ruthless capitalist at h eart.
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Iam extremely disappointed with upnd, it’s leader promised freedom, democracy and to uphold the rule of law today because they are in power it’s not a ticket to do the very things you spoke against! Honestly since when did Zambia police, a TV presenter sign on a G 12 form! Parliament has already been reduced to a toilet! It’s now ECZ!
May Jehovah God have mercy because we are dealing with a very evil, wicked, heartless government.
We feel your pain and mourn with you. It is not your fault that a few people were gullible enough to vote for failures like upnd. We will count on your vote in the next election for a return to normalcy. We thank you well in advance.
EVEN with God on PF side they wont win
Socialism is an ideology that has been discarded by China,Tanzania ,Cuba ,East Germany ,the former USSR under the flag of communism and even Ethiopia.
Socialism is equal sharing of misery while capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings.The latter has been adopted by many former socialist/communist nations.
Sweden Norway, Auraia, Canada are socio-capitaliat countries. China’s rise to number 1 economy is due to this model and SP is pursuing the same model. The name socialist is to emphasize, SOCIETY, the good of majority, with enabling environmwnt for every Zambian to rise and shine. Nothing against capitalst entrepreneurs, but stooges of impriakiat missionares BEWARE. Zambia fit, sef-reliant strong and resilient built by private entrepreurs, farmers, workers , youth and elderly alike.
Don’t insult our intelligence. Who doesn’t know what the Socialist Party stands for? It has nothing to do with Social-Capitalist ideology. Show us your Party Manifesto. instead of misleading young people.
Mmembe recently went to Russia to attend the Russia-Africa Parliamentary Conference in Moscow, Russia.
Mmembe hates the West with a passion. How do Norway Sweden, Austria, and Canada fit into socialism?