.Dr Scott

By CHUSA SICHONE –

VICE-President Guy Scott has said Zambians should not be ashamed to congratulate themselves for the peace the country has continued to enjoy for 50 years since Independence.
Speaking when he officiated at the 2014 National Youth Day Thanksgiving Church Service at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Lusaka yesterday, Dr Scott said the event was to celebrate the youths who account for 40 per cent of the country’s population.
Dr Scott observed that even if some people had been critical of Zambia remaining poor 50 years after Independence, the country had recorded some progress compared others during the same period.
Dr Scott said Zambia had performed better than most countries in achieving certain targets in the 50 years while other countries were still grappling with war and were faced with the disease burden, among other challenges.
“I think we should not be ashamed of congratulating ourselves on the peace and the harmony and the progress, slow but steady progress, in areas like health, in areas like education,” he said.
Dr Scott said youths needed to take centre stage in the national building process and socio-economic development.
He urged the youths to grow into responsible citizens and ensure they desist from engaging in activities that might compromise the country’s peace.
Dr Scott said the commemoration of National Youth Week went beyond political, religious and tribal divide.
It was at this point that the Vice-President took a swipe at some cosmopolitan schools that had continued to shun the National Youth Week celebrations.
“As I urged them last year, the posh schools where the parents pay a lot of money seem to think they are excused from Youth Week celebrations. They enjoy the Public Holiday, but in many cases they don’t come to march with us by the Freedom Statue on Youth Day,” he said.
Dr Scott urged the teachers, managers and parents at such schools to ensure their learners participated in youth activities as they were meant for the youths to show solidarity and be proud of being youths.
He also appealed to the Church Mother bodies and Faith-Based Organisations to continue offering special prayers for the youths and political party leaders for continued peace, unity, harmony, patriotism and prosperity.
This year’s National Youth Day Sunday Thanksgiving Church Service was held under the theme: ‘Zambia at 50, Promoting Youth Mainstreaming for Sustainable National Development.’
The event was characterised by prayers, singing and scripture readings.  Dr Scott read from 1 Timothy 5:1 to 2.
Prominent among those that attended the function were Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska, Deputy Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata, members of the Diplomatic Corps and youth from various backgrounds.