WHEN one analyses what most of our youths are involved in, one wonders which career suits such youths where they seem to have high experience.

But before this writer discusses this important topic, Times of Zambia management and this writer would like to apologise to our esteemed Let’s Talk Careers’ readers for not publishing articles in the first and second week of this month (May, 2014).

Times of Zambia and this writer did the best they could to publish the articles you like most; but due to some technical challenges, the articles weren’t published.

We apologise to our esteemed readers for being unable to publish the stated articles under this column.

Now that Times of Zambia and this writer have put everything in place to ensure that you, our esteemed readers get what you expect from this column, let’s talk about real issues that our youths are involved in which also affect them negatively.

Last time, my supervisor at Times of Zambia, Stanslous Ngosa was guiding this writer that, in addition to many other articles on various issues affecting careers and career development processes, we should be helping youths to come out of unemployment; and be useful citizens of this beautiful and peaceful country.

I liked such a suggestion and guidance; especially when I reflected on how I also suffered to find a good job when I was a youth.

Most people in this country have a passion for our youths.

This is because the future of this country depends on our current youths. And how such youths are groomed influenced how this country will be in future.

This is why even when most youths seem to be incorrigible, some people still hope that such youths can reform; and be better citizens in future. Such a perception is good positive thinking.

But does such positive thinking work in all situations? Granted that youths are the most important group for the future of this country; and that they are future leaders, what are they doing themselves from such a realization which has frequently and clearly been communicated to them?

Most youths seem to have challenges in understanding that the socio-cultural, economical, political and technological development process of this country depends on their good morals and responsibility.

While youths have complained that the demand for high experience in most vacant positions is a hindrance to new graduates at various levels of study, the same youth seem to have high experience in immoral, criminal and violent behaviour which if vacant positions demanded such experience, high unemployed levels among the youths would have been the thing of the past.

Those who have good reading culture will agree with me that most Press reports reveal that our youths are highly involved in immoral behaviour, criminal activities and in political violence.

Go to any Police station or Police post or to any court of law to find out which age group has the highest record of immorality, criminal behaviour and political violence. Even if the Police or the judiciary haven’t put records where our youths are good at in bar or pie charts or better still in graphs, it is clear that most of our youths involve themselves in unacceptable behaviour in our society. 

I can hear someone arguing in the background that some youths are involved in criminal activities because they are not employed. Yes, to some extent, that is a good argument. But it is also true that if one is unemployed, one should improve on one’s qualifications supported by good conduct for potential employers to appreciate such a person. 

Moreover, to make matters worse, some youths who are working are also highly involved in criminal activities in their respective work places. 

If one analyses press reports, police or judiciary records of youths who were working; but were found with criminal cases; and are being investigated by Police or are appearing before the courts of law, one can be surprised that the number of youths involved in criminal activities even in work places is also increasing and alarming. 

Therefore, the argument that some youths are involved in criminal activities because they are unemployed needs more justification; failure to which such an excuse falls out. 

Some records show that youths of as early as 18, 22 up to 35 years are reported to be involved in serious criminal activities such as defilement, rape, burglary and theft, murder, aggravated robbery, etc. 

Where did some youths get such experience to know how to rape, to defile, to murder people or how steal money from other people or from their respective employers? Can such youths put such unacceptable experience and skills in their CV in applying for jobs? 

Why is it that most youths complain of not having experience required in most advertised job vacancies; but the same youths seem to have more experience in immoral and illegal activities? 

Don’t think that when one writes like this on youths, such a person hates youths. Actually, he who says the truth about someone is the one who really loves that person or group of people than those who always flatter youths or any other group of people even when such a person or group of people is wrong. 

To prove that youths are more inclined to immoral and criminal behaviour than moral and responsible ones, consider how some youths are involved in political violence. 

No elderly person is reported to be involved or used in political violence. 

Some youths are highly involved in the experienced and reported high political violence that have now engulfed our country. 

Check the age of people who get into, onto and by sides of mini-buses going to courts of law for whatever purpose. 

It’s the youths. Some go there without proper dressing. Is this good behaviour? Is this the experience current employers want? 

It is from such analysis that one can conclude that our youths seem to be good and more experienced at immoral and criminal activities than those attributes and experiences that most employers want. 

And if there can be an employer or group of employers who want people who are good at criminal activities and political violence, it appears high unemployment levels among many youths in our society can be a thing of the past because such employers can employ most such youths. 

Contrary, most good employers want well-behaved, trained, experienced and skilled youths in respective areas. Therefore, youths should train in or get experience and skills in careers or fields most employers want? 

Bad behaviour and criminal activities are working against the same youths for many years to come. Most people will have an impression that most youths have criminal minds; and entrusting them with certain responsibilities is a high risk. 

As a result, most employers might be avoiding youths in certain positions which might aggravate high unemployment among the same youths. 

May be this has already started happening. Therefore, the task of attracting trust from the ethical leaders and employers lies in youths themselves. 

This doesn’t mean that all youths have blood of criminal atoms. There are many other youths who have genuine Christian values and lead a moral, disciplined and hard working life. 

Some good youths are in good positions both in private and public institutions where their respective employers appreciate their good performance; and are proud of their personality. 

But such good personality and responsibility among few youths are overshadowed by many youths involved in drug abuse, alcoholism, political violence and other criminal activities. 

And if one was to analyse the details of youths involved in criminal activities, one might discover that it is those who didn’t do well at school who are highly involved in such illegal activities. 

Moreover, if one who check grade 12 results or any other studies for those used in political violence, one might also discover that it’s those who had poor results at school. 

People who have serious deficiencies have no moral or legal means of earning a living; and do anything to hide their deficiencies in the name of trying to survive; and earn a living. 

Such sad developments and revelations are warning shots to our government that our country might face serious socio-cultural, economic and political challenges in future arising from poor education system, high unemployment levels and tolerating criminal behaviour among some youths that have remained unresolved for some time now. 

It is from such a background that while some citizens and some civil society organisations (CSOs); including the church are expressing concern on how our government and some political representatives are serving the masses, one also expects such citizens, CSO and the church to publicly express concern on the negative and, therefore, retrogressive direction most youths in this country have taken. 

And whoever is engineering and or tolerating such bad behaviour in some youths should be condemned to the last atom of condemnation in our society. 

One cannot correct a wrong through a praise. 

Immorality and criminality are not only against our cultural and Christian values but are also illegal; and therefore unacceptable in our society. 

Therefore, most youths must start repenting now. 

They should transform their criminal behaviour into morally, well behaved and responsible citizens and future leaders for peace and stability to be sustained in our beautiful country. 

(The author is a trained carreer coach)

CELL:0976/0977 450151, sycoraxtndhlovu@yahoo.co.uk