SP YOUTH SPOKESPERSON RAISES CONCERNS OVER PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION NOMINATIONS
Socialist Party (SP) National Youth Spokesperson Sconel Lusambo has congratulated the young people nominated to Parliament under the proportional representation system, while urging them to remember that their responsibility extends beyond political party interests to representing the broader aspirations of Zambia’s youth.
Mr. Lusambo said the nomination of young people presented an important opportunity to ensure that the voices and concerns of the youth are meaningfully represented in Parliament.
However, he questioned whether the nomination process had sufficiently reflected the contributions and sacrifices of young people who worked for their respective political parties, particularly those who continued to speak out and challenge the government on issues affecting ordinary citizens.
He observed that there was a perception that some young people who consistently supported and praised those in power had benefited from the nominations, while others who openly opposed or criticised the government had been left out.
Mr. Lusambo said the situation raised legitimate questions about whether proportional representation was achieving its intended purpose of broad and inclusive youth representation or whether political loyalty was becoming a factor in determining who gets opportunities
He urged the newly nominated youth representatives to use their positions to speak for the millions of young Zambians facing unemployment, economic hardships and limited opportunities, rather than simply becoming praise singers for those in government.
Mr. Lusambo further stressed that Zambia belongs to all its citizens and that the struggle for genuine and independent youth representation would continue. He said the exclusion of some young people from the current nominations should not discourage them, as political opportunities would continue to emerge.
He maintained that the time would come when young Zambians would be represented on the basis of their commitment to the people and the issues affecting society, rather than their political loyalty.