Tensions one day before Zambia’s August 11 elections are high. As incidents of violence perpetrated by political party cadres against other parties increased, young party activists – typically blamed for the violence – worked across parties to publicly disavow the violence. After an NDI training on conflict mitigation, youth leaders organized a series of public events and marches to call for ending the violence. Organized in partnership with NDI’s Zambian partners – Young Women in Action (YWA), the Council of Churches of Zambia (CCZ) and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) – these events demonstrate the resolve of youth from competing political parties to denounce violence before, during or after the elections. Media coverage of these events has reached a broader audience with the simple, but powerful message that violence has no place in the election.
On July 16, 2016, 60 youth marched through the main streets of the city of Kitwe in Copperbelt Province, wearing their party regalia, and singing songs disavowing political violence. Led by political party Youth Ambassadors who participated in NDI’s conflict mitigation program, the youth reversed the usual campaign behavior by helping their peers from competing parties replace torn campaign posters.
Photo by Andisen Zulu
A vehicle sporting campaign posters of three competing parties joined the Kitwe march. The solidarity peace walk was featured in the main news hour of the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC TV2) and Muvi television.
Several days later, on July 23, Lusaka Youth Ambassadors held a solidarity march in the Zambian capital. Sixty-six young men and women from six parties began at the Kabwe roundabout, wound their way along Cairo Road in downtown Lusaka and ended up at the historic site of the Freedom Statue. Youth ambassadors spoke and pledged peace. Police provided security but did not speak at the event. The event was covered by radio stations such as Hot FM and ZNBC.
Meanwhile, in Eastern Province, Youth Ambassadors organized two events, one in the provincial capital of Chipata on July 29, and the other one in Katete, on August 4. The Youth Ambassadors collaborated with the Zambia Police and the Anti-Political Violence Youth Ambassador drama group on a march through the main streets of Chipata. At the invitation of the Youth Ambassadors, the police and the church addressed the crowd of 100. The Police Commissioner for Eastern Province praised the young party members for the initiative and encouraged them to maintain peace. Pastor Shumba, from the SDA church, encouraged the youth to be peaceful in all they do.
Photo by Andisen Zulu
In Katete, the six Eastern Province Youth Ambassadors organized 60 young men and women from each of the six political parties (ten from each party) to march in solidarity along the main streets and market of Katete. Donning party regalia and holding party banners, the youth sang solidarity songs and were joined by onlookers and marketeers. The Zambia police provided security and assigned four senior police officers to attend the event. The director of police operations Mr. Mazuba, was one of the key speakers and stated that the police want political parties to co-exist and campaign peacefully. A pastor from the Evangelical Fellowship in Zambia gave the keynote address and encouraged youths to work together to end political violence. Each of the six ambassadors was given an opportunity to speak and pledge peace. The event was covered by the ZANIS and Mpangwe FM Radio.
Dramatic reenactment of the lead-up to election violence in Katete. Photo by Andisen Zulu
Photo by Andisen Zulu
Photo by Andisen Zulu
Southern Province Youth Ambassadors are planning to bring together 50 young people from six political parties in a workshop on how to maintain peace after elections. Various topics will be explored which include gender and non-violence, nature of violence in Zambia and the history of Zambian politics. This will be followed by an event using dance, songs and poems to mobilize people. The Southern Province Youth Ambassadors will deliver messages on the need for the public to desist from political violence by embracing peace.
Together, these and other independently organized events reflect the interest of young Zambian leaders to take a public stand and model civil and peaceful behavior between political parties. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), these events are helping to support peaceful political activism.
