Vice-President WK Mutale-Nalumango has urged Zambian youths to take advantage of opportunities in agriculture, technology and renewable energy to create wealth and sustainable jobs.
Ms Mutale-Nalumango said young people should move beyond seeking employment and become entrepreneurs, innovators and employers capable of contributing to Zambia’s economic transformation.
Speaking when she officially opened the 2026 Youth Connect National Summit in Lusaka yesterday, the Vice-President said the theme; “Green Hustle: Cultivating Wealth, Creating Jobs,” was timely as Zambia entered a new phase of economic transformation.
She said the country’s young people must be at the centre of increasing production, investment, economic activity and employment under the Grow Zambia Agenda outlined by President Hakainde Hichilema.
“If Zambia is to produce more and add value to its resources, its young people must be among those leading that production, as well as building the businesses and technologies,” she said.
Ms Mutale-Nalumango said the Green Hustle should encourage young people to identify problems, develop solutions and turn those solutions into sustainable businesses.
She challenged the youth to transform agriculture from farming into agribusiness, production into value addition and raw commodities into finished products.
She further encouraged young people to embrace irrigation and climate-smart agriculture instead of relying heavily on rain-fed farming.
Ms Mutale-Nalumango said Zambia’s youthful population represented a major opportunity for socio-economic development, provided the country invested in education, skills and economic participation.
She said the Government would continue strengthening access to skills and entrepreneurship training, finance, productive assets, land, technology, irrigation, infrastructure, mentorship, markets and value-addition opportunities.
Youth, Sport and Arts Permanent Secretary Kangwa Chileshe urged young people to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the green economy to create wealth, employment and sustainable livelihoods.
Mr Chileshe said young people had a critical role to play in transforming Zambia’s economic landscape through innovation, entrepreneurship and the development of enterprises in environmentally sustainable sectors.
The PS said the summit also allowed the Government, the private sector, development partners and other stakeholders to listen to young people and strengthen partnerships aimed at supporting their aspirations.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Deputy Resident Representative Laurent Rudasingwa said the aspirations outlined in Zambia’s development plans could not be achieved without the active participation and leadership of young people.
