MONTHLY Socialist SOCIALISTPARTY ISSUE 9, MARCH/APRIL 2021 A newsletter published by the Socialist Party, Lusaka, Zambia FREE OF CHARGE The 2021 elections give us a chance to change everything and build a more just and caring society Some of the Socialist Party’s latest parliamentary candidates chosen to contest the August election, including Lindiwe Mawere, second left. More pictures, Page 6 Socialist Party FRED M’MEMBE, incoming president, offers #realchange with makes history the Socialist Party’s 21-year-old is the youngest person to stand for Parliament policies based on jus- tice, equity and peace. Socialist staff reporter was committed to youth leadership. “The Socialist Party and our presi- The future Manifesto download dent has offered me this opportuni- details and info about THE SOCIALIST Party has ty. I don’t have money, I don’t even is not built made history by fielding the have a bicycle, but I’m standing as in the future, how to join the party youngest ever person to stand a parliamentary candidate. Leader- it is built on are on our back page for the Zambian Parliament. ship is not about money, leadership the threshold The Zambian constitution is about being near and necessary ‘ provides for its citizens to stand to one’s people. of what we do – Page 12 as parliamentary candidates “I urge all my fellow young today from the age of 21, and Lindiwe people in this country to support Mawere has been chosen to con- me in this struggle, to support our test Kawambwa Central constit- president and our party to ensure that we win the August 12 election. uency, Luapula Province. This is our only hope for a better Electoral Speaking at an adoption cer- future and for a better life. emony in Lusaka, Mawere said, “I am equal to the task. Chances “We young people have a duty to bribes of victory for me are there. I hope I make the real changes required by win the election.” our country. We can change things Mawere works as a hairdresser must and nobody will change anything in Kawambwa. A Grade 12 cer- for us. It has to be us ourselves. I tificate holder from Kawambwa’s have to play a role or else I’ll have not blind Ng’ona Secondary School, she will no future and no present. be among the Socialist Party’s 156 “Our president, Dr Fred parliamentary candidates to contest us to M’membe, has taught us that the the August general election. future is not built in the future, it The party has also adopted a is built on the threshold of what we 22-year-old. Mulenga Royda will reality do today. I’ve been selected by my contest Kaputa constituency. people in Kawambwa to represent them in Parliament this year.” l Youth Day, Page 3; Walking – Page 5 Mawera said the Socialist Party the talk, candidates, Page 6 Lindiwe Mawere: I am equal to the task. I hope I win the election JUSTICE • EQUITY • PEACE SP does not INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY enter into alliances or make pacts We have explained our position so many times Socialist staff reporter path to victory is filled of obstacles and challenges. We just need to find solutions and keep on struggling. THE ISSUE of the Social- “Lots of hard work and time need ist Party joining alliances or to be invested, nothing great ever SOCIALIST Party women were out and about in the run-up to, and Nawa Musole, Mongu Central parliamentary candidate; and Barbra pacts keeps on coming up. came that easily. A life of ignoble during, International Women’s Day discussing women’s rights and Chekuda Maramwidze, Matero constituency parliamentary can- their role in political leadership. didate, are pictured as guests on Hot FM’s special women’s day We have explained and ex- ease, which springs merely from lack either of desire or of power to Rehoboth Kafwabulula, party national spokesperson; Christine programme on the topic #ChooseToChallenge. plained our position on this strive after great things, is as little issue but it comes up cease- worthy of a nation as of an indi- lessly, party president Fred vidual. It’s time to stand up for genuine change M’membe says. “The state of our country calls not “For us, it is not about quick for the life of ease, but for the life of cline of the Kwacha against major strenuous endeavour. If we shrink AS ZAMBIA joined the rest Who ensures there’s water in the and easy political fixes just to currencies,” she said. “There has from the hard contests where we of the world in marking In- house? Who ensures kids go to enable us win elections. For us, also been corruption scandal after must win at hazard of our lives and ternational Women’s Day, the school, that the sick in the family there is no choice between being corruption scandal involving top at the risk of all we hold dear, then are taken care of?” principled and unelectable; and Socialist Party issued a call to officials of the land. the bolder and stronger will pass us Mpongo said Women’s Day electable and unprincipled. We women to stand up for genu- “This year, we mark Women’s by and will win for themselves the was an opportunity to recognise should win because of what we ine change. Day amidst news of the country’s domination of our country. the labour of Zambian women. believe in,” he said. Nancy Busiku Mpongo, So- richest becoming even richer “Let us therefore boldly face the “While the Zambian poor and cialist Party Mandevu constitu- faster while the majority who are Dr M’membe said we lived in a life of strife, resolute to do our duty people are burdened with the ency secretary (pictured right), poor are becoming even poorer. complex era that required principles well, resolute to uphold righteous- country’s problems, Zambian more than ever. said that the overwhelming ma- “The majority of Zambians – women bear an additional burden. ness by word and by deed, resolute jority of Zambians had suffered “It requires a lot more aware- to be both honest and brave, to workers, farmers, unemployed, “They work so hard and give from poverty, hunger, unemploy- ness,” he said. “Political deals, alli- serve high ideals yet to use practical urban and rural poor – are suffer- so much of themselves, often ment, a lack of government sup- ances or pacts are worthless if they methods. ing. But the women who belong without recognition, rest, or re- port for farming, expensive social are not inspired by noble, selfless “Above all, let us shrink from to these sectors – the overwhelm- muneration. sentiments. Likewise, noble senti- no strife, moral or physical, pro- services, and repression of basic ing majority of Zambian women – “Let us recognise this added ments are worthless if they are not vided we are certain that the strife civil and political rights, for far are the ones who suffer the most. burden of women and commit to based on correct and fair arrange- is justified, for it is only through too long. shedding hours, a lack of water “Who is burdened with budget- reducing it.” ments. strife, through hard and danger- “Today, our situation has wors- services and proper sanitation, ing the little income for the day’s “We have chosen to defend cer- ous endeavour, that we shall ulti- ened even further with the high expensive health facilities amidst meals, if not with actually find- l It started with bread and tain principles that are of tremen- mately win.” price of foodstuffs, very long load a pandemic, and the steepest de- ing that income in the first place? peace, Page 4 dous value at a time of confusion and opportunism in our country, a time when many politicians are feathering their own nests. We will SP manifesto cooperate with other political play- M’membe: It is very dangerous to use ers to address problems which af- ‘resonates fect all of us, but we will not be part of these alliance circuses going on. the police as an extension of the party with people’s Tyrannical RECENTLY President Edgar Lungu made a remember that even for their own good, their if, individually and collectively, they resolved to aspirations’ very strange admission, or rather confession, fellow citizens in the police must be left to deal discharge their policing obligations without fear “Nobody should think that things Socialist Party president Fred M’membe says. with the maintenance of law and order in the or favour.” NYIMBA residents in Eastern are going to be easy. We must be He quotes President Lungu as saying, “The way they have been trained. It is very dangerous Dr M’membe said Dr Kenneth Kaunda gave Province have applauded the So- prepared to meet difficulties. We public confidence in the police service is low, for politicians in the governing party to control very good guidance on the issue. cialist Party manifesto, saying, “it have difficulties right now, and we and it is up to the police, themselves, to regain the police and make tem do their bidding. “First and foremost must come the quality of resonates with the aspirations of will have even greater ones in the that confidence by their actions. To this end, “In any country where law is deliberately impartial fair play for I do not wish my police- the people”. coming days, weeks and months, there is urgent need for the police service to twisted to entrap political opponents and in men to be partisans to the many political and Speaking to a Socialist Party even if we do things the right way address these public concerns if the people of which police officers act as an extension of the tribal feuds that may emerge in our country, as media team shortly after a party – and we should do them the right Zambia are to regain confidence in them.” ruling party cadres rather than impartial profes- has happened in others,” Dr M’membe quotes mobilisation meeting in Chief way – even if it calls for our great- Dr M’membe said that while it was very sional law enforcement officers, there can be Dr Kaunda as saying.