/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party (SRWP) stands in solidarity with the Socialist Party (SP) of Zambia in its fight against neocolonialism and advance for socialism. In just two days, Zambia will head to the polls in what has been an unprecedented election period. Why? Firstly, working class interests have been put firmly back on the agenda by the Socialist Party. Secondly, a Socialist Party victory holds the key to a non-violent post-elections period. 

Despite being rich in mineral and natural resources (from immense copper deposits to fertile agricultural soils), Zambia is experiencing explosive poverty levels of 82% in some regions, with rural poverty averaging at 76.6%. Zambia today is the fifth hungriest country in the world after the Central African Republic, Chad, Madagascar and Yemen. As SP have consistently pointed out, these inequalities are born from an economy still rooted in the logic of exploitation from colonial and neoliberal eras, where the working class and rural peasants continue to be coerced to serve the whims of the elite. The economy continues to be organised to benefit private capital over the interests of the people. 

At the centre of SP’s campaign are three key pillars, namely education, health and peasant agriculture. In education, SP has already begun practical commitments to their programme through the Fred M’membe Literacy Campaign, which also specifically encourages women’s participation. Zambia’s overall illiteracy rate is around 55% (some estimate 70%), with the majority being women. SP has also adopted a policy of 50% women participation across all structures while encouraging a vibrant youth leadership. In these elections, SP has managed to field 143 parliamentary candidates out of 156 constituencies, with 48% being women.

With the campaign slogan of Zivotele meaning “Vote for yourself”, SP has worked to build an organisation made up of leaders of the most downtrodden communities and social groups in Zambia – peasants, mineworkers, teachers and much more.

Due to the vibrancy of the party they are building and their progressive programs that have captured the attention of the Zambian people, the SP members and supporters have experienced intimidation and outright violence. Too often this is meted out by the members of the ruling party, the Patriotic Front (PF). Some believe this to have been the most bloody election campaign seen in decades. We call upon progressive and genuine democracy-loving organisations to speak out against these oppressive practices and all forms of political violence. 

A vote for the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) or the United Party for National Development (UPND) will almost certainly lead to post-elections violence and a long period of violent instability in Zambia. The SP, therefore, offers Zambians an alternative from these two violent parties. 

We stand firm in solidarity with our comrades in SP as they continue to dedicate their energies in arresting the neocolonial arrangement in Zambia and advancing a socialist project in Zambia, Africa and the world! The banner of socialism is flying high and we have every confidence in the programme of the SP for a revolutionary socialist construction in Zambia.

We urge all Zambian voters who cherish peace and want real development to turn out in large numbers and vote for the SP in the  elections on Thursday 12 August 2021.  

Amaku! Kubantu!

Issued by The Socialist Revolutionary Workers Party