•OPPOSITION Green Party youths in Kitwe joined in the Youth Day celebrations at Kitwe Playing Fields. Picture by MOFFAT CHAZINGWA

By CHATULA KAMPO, JULIUS PHIRI, KASONDE KASONDE, NORMA SIAME and ISAAC MUKANDO-
LOCAL Government and Housing Minister Emerine Kabanshi has urged youths to desist from engaging in activities that might compromise the peace the country is enjoying.
She said during the commemoration of Youth Day at the civic centre in Ndola yesterday that youths should not engage themselves in activities that might compromise the country’s peace.
Youths countrywide yesterday celebrated their day under the theme ‘Zambia at 50, promoting youth mainstreaming for sustainable national development’.
Ms Kabanshi said youths were future leaders of Zambia and should, therefore, embrace a sense of responsibility and hard work.
Ndola youth representative, Ruth Muntanga urged youths to be responsible in all they did and continue praying for the peace of the country.
At the inter-denominational Youth Day prayers held at the Reformed Church of Zambia in Ndola on Tuesday evening, acting Ndola District Commissioner Taphen Mulongo said he was sad over the high number of youths not honouring their obligations to the Youth Development Fund.
Mr Mulongo said there was need for youths to be responsible in their projects and ensure that they paid back loans.
Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula said at the Chipata Youth Day celebrations held at David Kaunda Stadium that Government recognised the youth as the backbone of the country.
Dr Simbyakula said it was sad that youths were being abused by political parties.
“It is unfortunate that youths are being abused by political parties. You should realise that the future of Zambia lies with you,” he said.
Youth representative George Mwanza said Government should place youth employment and empowerment creation at the top of its economic agenda.
In Kabwe, Education Minister John Phiri challenged youths in Zambia to stay focused and contribute to national development.
Dr Phiri said Government was committed to establishing a micro-credit financing facility specifically targeting youths so as to promote youth enterprise development for wealth and employment creation.
Hundreds of youths yesterday attended the commemoration at the Godfrey Chitalu Stadium.
In Kasama, youths from religious organisations, political party youth wings, and learning institutions yesterday turned up in droves to commemorate Youth Day.
Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa, who graced the occasion, took part in song and dance with the youths at the civic centre.
Mr Sampa called on the youths to take over the fight from freedom fighters who had fought for political independence by working hard.
He advised the youth to do away with complacency born out of expecting Government to address all their problems.
He was happy to see a group from the UNIP youth wing at the celebrations.
Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda said there was need to empower youths with life survival skills such as carpentry and farming if the country was to benefit from them.
Mr Chikwanda said youths should be empowered not only through books but through other different life skills and tools which would see them contribute effectively to national development.
He said this in Kitwe when he graced the Youth Day celebration held at the Kitwe Playing Fields.
Copperbelt Minister Mwenya Musenge and Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga accompanied Mr Chikwanda at the celebrations.