. Mawere

By JAMES KUNDA and MILDRED KATONGO –
YOUTHS across the country yesterday celebrated their day under the theme ‘Unity and innovation for a smart Zambia’.
Vice-President Inonge Wina led service chiefs, members of the diplomatic corps and other dignitaries in laying wreaths at the Freedom statue to mark the occasion.
President Edgar Lungu implored youths to rise and lead the country’s economic diversification agenda through innovation.
The Head of State said he did not want youths to lag behind, because they, as future leaders, were cardinal in the country’s quest to achieve sustainable economic growth.
Youth, Sports and Child Development Minister Moses Mawere said this to journalists in Lusaka yesterday during the commemorations.
Mr Mawere said the Government would support and utilise youth-oriented programmes as the country targeted to diversify the economy from mining to other equally viable sectors like agriculture.
“The President is saying that youths should not be left behind,” Mr Mawere said. “We want to see our young people become more innovate and we will support them in this regard so that our country develops.”
He reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to enhancing access to facilities such as skills training and entrepreneurial development to improve the welfare of young people.
United Nations (UN) resident coordinator Janet Rogan said young people were critical in enabling the country attain sustainable growth.
Ms Rogan said the youth should, therefore, stand up and speak out against the negative vices perpetrated against them by other people or institutions.
Meanwhile, Copperbelt Minister Bowman Lusambo has commended President Lungu for showing confidence in young people by including them in his Government.
Mr Lusambo said no country had succeeded without the input of the youth, hence the President’s decision to work with them.
He said young people should be responsible and take up the responsibility they had been entrusted with.
“I am a good example of what the President has done for the young people. He has the heart for the youth and he is working with us at all levels. This can be seen from the number of young people who have been given positions in Government and given the responsibility to run the affairs of the country,” Mr Lusambo said.
In Kitwe, ABIGAIL CHIYENI reports that Kitwe District Commissioner Binwell Mpundu said he was disappointed that most people thought that the Youth Day was only meant for school-going children.
Mr Mpundu said there was very little participation from companies, even though most of their employees were youths.
He said more than 60 per cent of the country’s population were youths but that regrettably, only a small number of them were in leadership.
In Chipata, JULIUS PHIRI and MWAPE CHIMBA report that Eastern Province Minister Makebi Zulu said the Government had created an enabling environment for employment creation and enterprise development.
In Kabwe, SYLVESTER MWALE reports that Central Province Minister Sydney Mushanga urged young people not to be used as conduits of violence by selfish politicians.
Mr Mushanga said in an interview after attending the Youth Day celebrations that the youth should instead regard themselves as assets for the socio-economic development of the country.
He said that the Government had created a conducive environment for young people in Zambia, which should be utilised to contribute to the development of the country.