NGOCC condemns stripping of a girl on youth day

The Non Governmental Organizations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) condemns in the strongest terms the violence and the stripping naked of an opposition girl by cadres of the Patriotic Front (PF) at the Freedom Statue on Saturday, 12th March 2016 during the commemoration of the International Youth Day. 

In Press release issued by Patricia Mubanga NGOCC  board publicity said the act by the ruling party cadres to undress the girl in public is not only criminal but barbaric and evil only reminiscent in lawless societies. It is despicable, that youths from the ruling party can conduct themselves in such a barbaric manner.

As an organization we have been made aware of a video clip that is even circulating on social media depicting this very sad incidence with identifiable ‘criminals’. We therefore call upon the Zambia police to immediately arrest the culprits who undressed the young girl in public. The conduct of the PF cadres to undress a woman in public is the highest level of indignity ever shown to women in the country, considering that President Edgar Chagwa Lungu on 8 March 2016 during International Women’s Day spoke strongly against the negative portrayal of women in the print media. This act by itself is not any different. Nothing justifies such barbaric conduct against a fellow human being, because every human being has the right to respect and to belong any political grouping.

Zambia is a democratic country where all citizens are free to belong to any political grouping without any intimidation. The behavior of the cadres to undress an opposition member just because she is dressed in her party regalia is unconstitutional and we expect the leadership of the party to act against these cadres.

NGOCC therefore demands an apology from the PF over this very sad incident. As we go to the elections on 11th August, there is need for civility from both the opposition and the ruling party.

As an organization we will not allow any of the political parties to abuse women and insult them in the manner the PF cadres behaved on Saturday 12th March 2016.