MWAMBA

By TIMES REPORTER-
AN opposition party leader on the Copperbelt has said Zambia will have a lot to benefit by harnessing the potential of the youth and equipping them with knowledge and skills necessary for their full participation in national development.
Democratic Assembly president Maxwell Mwamba said in a statement released yesterday that youths should be given space in the social, cultural, economic and political development of the country as a way to realise their full potential.
Mr Mwamba said the focus of his party was on provision of skills training that would ultimately inspire young people to be self-employed.
“It is the vision of the Democratic Assembly to establish vocational training centres to empower the large number of youths in the country and help them venture in business ventures.
“The kind of training the party is looking at when I become president of Zambia will be the one designed in such a way that graduates must be equipped to stand on their own instead of looking up to Government for employment opportunities all the time,” he said.
Mr Mwamba also called for level-headedness in the Constitution-making process to avoid misunderstandings that might disturb the peace being enjoyed in Zambia.
He said the current Constitution had been embraced by successive Governments as it seemingly gave unfettered powers to a sitting President.
The opposition leader said good governance and human rights observance were anchored on the basis of a people-driven Constitution.
“Efforts to shipwreck the Constitution-making process by sponsored elements who are issuing conflicting statements should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
“Moves to kill the authority and powers of chiefs over land and water bodies must not be entertained. Zambia under the Democratic Assembly will maintain the authority and powers of chiefs over their respective land,” Mr Mwamba said.