. Wina
By NAKUBIANA MUMBUNA –
VETERAN Politician Sikota Wina has challenged youths in Zambia to exploit the opportunities that the country’s freedom fighters have created in an effort to take the country’s development agenda forward.
Mr Wina who was the first Information minister in the first Cabinet said Zambia’s freedom fighters have built a very strong foundation which the younger generation should exploit to spearhead development.
In his message to Zambians ahead of the Golden Jubilee celebrations next month, the veteran politician said the younger generation should not blame their forefathers if they failed to develop the country.
Mr Wina explained that among the achievements scored by the forefathers was the building of the University of Zambia (UNZA) and numerous schools across the country.
He stated that UNZA has so far produced countless graduates who he said have the capacity to steer development in Zambia.
“At the time of independence, this country had only one black engineer, one black doctor and three secondary schools and we worked hard to change this and by 1968 we had built the University of Zambia (UNZA).
“So as forefathers, we built a very strong foundation on which the younger generation can continue from,” he said.
Mr Wina also mentioned that at independence the Government also introduced economic reforms to protect indigenous Zambians from white competition.
He has since urged Zambians to work hard and remain determined in taking Zambia to greater heights.
On freedom of information in Zambia, Mr Wina said as former Information minister, he was impressed that media enjoyed Press freedom.
“From my analysis so far, the media in Zambia enjoys Press freedom but I must mention that the only problem is that journalists themselves censor themselves in their execution of duties,” he said.
On the continued peace, Mr Wina said the continued peace that Zambians are enjoying was a rare achievement on the continent.
“I attribute the peace and tranquility to the nature of Zambian people and my appeal to the younger generation is to guard the peace we still enjoy jealously,” he said.
