By KALOBWE BWALYA
THE UPND will not pay a deaf ear to the views of youth protesters from Kanyama constituency in Lusaka who have passed a vote of no confidence in Secretary General, Batuke Imenda, spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa has said.
Mr Mweetwa said the party would consider the protesters’ views because it was their democratic right and needed to be respected for the growth of the party.
He said that there was no acrimony or antagonism in the UPND but just individuals expressing their views democratically.
Mr Mweetwa said the party at an opportune time would sit and evaluate the reasons and would be able to act accordingly depending on what they would find.
He however said the party would find an amicable solution to this issue for the betterment of the party.
On Saturday, UPND youths in Kanyama protested over the party’s defeat in the just ended Luangwa District Council Chairperson by-election saying the defeat to the Patriotic Front signified a lack of motivation at grassroots level.
The youth had passed a vote of no confidence in Mr Imenda.
Some leaders in Kanyama ward 13, called on President Hakainde Hichilema to drop the Secretary General and replace him with Lusaka Province chairperson Obvious Mwaliteta.
But when asked for a comment, Mr Imenda said he could not comment over the matter.
Meanwhile, PF Eastern Province, Information Publicity Secretary William Phiri said calls by the youth to have Mr Imenda and UPND Chairperson for Election Mr Gary Nkombo removed from their positions has exposed how ungrateful the party is especially to youths not only in the party, but the nation as a whole.
Mr Phiri stated that it is sad that despite the UPND being in government its people especially the youth have continued suffering.
