Socialist Party youths join calls for early elections, as Zambia grapples with national crisis

The Socialist Party youths have supported ex-president Edgar Lungu’s call for President Hakainde Hichilema to call for early elections.

Party General-Secretary for the Youth League, Gabriel Banda, stated this would demonstrate the President’s commitment to democracy.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Banda noted that the country was facing a critical situation marked by widespread hunger, soaring unemployment, and pervasive poverty.

“These challenges mirror the dire circumstances of 1985 and the economic depression that necessitated early elections in 1991 when Dr. Kenneth Kaunda’s administration could no longer meet the needs of the Zambian people,” he said.

Banda stated that at that point, citizens and various stakeholders demanded early elections, and their will was granted.

He argued that the precedent set then can now be used to ensure those who occupy offices have legitimacy from the people they lead.

“President Hichilema, prior to the 2021 elections, boldly challenged then-president Edgar Lungu to call for early elections, citing the Patriotic Front’s (PF) failure to fix the economy,” Banda highlighted.

He said that today, under President Hichilema’s leadership, the country finds itself in a similar, if not worse, scenario.

Banda noted that the cost of living has skyrocketed, with the prices of essential commodities such as fuel and mealie meal reaching unprecedented levels.

“Unemployment continues to rise, exacerbating the already widespread poverty. The Zambian people are suffering, and it is clear that the current administration has not delivered on its promises; there is no economic revival or social upliftment,” he stated.

Banda further called on all youths across the country to take advantage of the ongoing voter registration process by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and register as voters.

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