A GROUP of young activists representing various political parties has written with the police, notifying them of their planned peaceful protest scheduled for October 28.
The group, calling itself the ‘Protest Movement,’ intends to voice their concerns about the surge in fuel prices resulting from monthly pump price adjustments.
Currently, diesel and petrol are priced at K29.96 and K29.98, respectively.
Thomson Luzendi, spokesperson for the ‘Protest Movement,’ said their primary aim is to highlight the adverse effects of exorbitant fuel costs on the livelihoods of the people.
He said the protest is planned to take place from cabinet office along Independence Avenue to woodlands stadium, as a direct response to high fuel prices following monthly pump price adjustments that have culminated into diesel and petrol now fetching an unprecedented K29.96 and K29.98 respectively.
“The protest march will be from Cabinet Office to Woodlands Round about via independence Avenue. The action will not have a key speech and all protestors will carry placards with messages on the issue; however, the organizers will provide private security to marshal the protest and ensure it is peaceful and within the confines of the Law. We will have about 500 citizens joining the procession,” he said.
But during a media briefing, Minister of Information and Media Cornelius Mweetwa castigated the planned protest, accusing the Patriotic Front as being behind it.
Mr Mweetwa said his office received information regarding the opposition political party’s intention to stage a demonstration on October 18 this year.
He said it is shocking that the opposition political party wants to demonstrate on the day of national prayers and reconciliation.
“As government we have received this message with shock that they can opt to perform a demonstration on a day set aside for prayers,” he said.
He said those talking about the protest should have the decency to think of a huge debt they left and has affected the country to date.
“You cannot create debt, leave the fuel sectors in tatters and you go out chanting slogans that lets demonstrate, who do you want to demonstrate against? Against what they left,” he said.
The Minister said PF has a stained record and should be the last to claim to speak on behalf of the Zambians.
“PF’s hands are dripping with blood because of the sufferings they caused. They cannot occupy any moral ground to speak on behalf of the people of Zambia and before they speak of rebranding they need to repent. We invite them on the 18th to repent of what they did to the people of Zambia,” he said.
(Mwebantu, Thursday, 5th October, 2023)
