Operation Young Vote (OYV) would like to state from the onset that it does not condone or support any form of homosexuality and would go to every length to discourage any individual or group from supporting let alone indulging in the practice.
However, the way the debate of either supporting or not supporting homosexuality, has been schemed to target certain individuals and political parties. We say so because the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) President Mr. Andford Banda has come out that they are a member of the African Liberal Network and there seems not to be any direct attack on him and his political party. Moreover Mr. A. Banda has indicated that at no point has the African Liberal Network discussed or put on its agenda matters of homosexuality or any such related item.
We say this is somehow targeted on the United Party for National Development (UPND) because as noted above there are other political parties that are part of the African Liberal Network and they seem not to be in the equation or firing range and also that some of the individuals that are championing painting the UPND and its leaders black are the very same persons that were alleged to advocate that Zambia should embrace homosexuality under the guise of Minority Rights in the Constitution through the Constitution making processes a few years ago.
This debate does not seem to add any value to the current challenges Zambians are going through and further not helpful in the country’s quest to attain its aspirations and those of its citizens.
Further, it is also not a secret that some governments in the world particularly in Africa including Zambia are recipients of funds from the Global Fund.
At the level of unbearableness things has reached in terms of hardships among the many citizens in the country, we need as a people to admit that there are serious economical and governance challenges that have sky rocketed the cost of living. This admittance and recognition should be followed by our government and all stakeholders mounting strategies to overcome what has befallen us.
Why are we as a people (especially the young) wasting our precious time to debating a non-issue at the expense of critical matters that should enhance our development while at the same time securing Zambia’s future?
What should be appreciated by all government, all other stakeholders and those unleashed to ‘destroy’ the opposition (when in actual fact building them at a supersonic rate) is that Zambians are hungry, hating and most of all are yearning for solutions to the challenges they have been subjected to.
As OYV, our advise to the Government is for them as leaders to begin to provide solutions to the Zambians or mount up teams that will rekindle hope in the citizens as the debate and accusations on homosexuality and being part of the African Liberal Network is worsening the situation.
It is quite saddening that Politicians and Political Parties seem not to learn from history. This very agenda was used by the MMD on PF’s Michael Chilufya Sata – did it work – NO. And today, the same thing is being used. It actually beats all logic to use the same matter and expect different results – Of course not in Zambia and on Zambians. Delivery of solutions and rekindling of confidence and hope would work.

For and on Behalf of Operation Young Vote (OYV)

Guess Nyirenda (Mr.)
Executive Director