Don’t be used, Lungu urges youths
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu yesterday led hundreds of youths in commemorating the 2019 Youth Day celebrations and laid wreaths at the freedom statue in Lusaka in honour of the youths who died in the country’s liberation struggle.
PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu yesterday led hundreds of youths in commemorating the 2019 Youth Day celebrations and laid wreaths at the freedom statue in Lusaka in honour of youths who died in the country’s liberation struggle.
President Lungu who arrived at the Freedom Statue on Independence Avenue at around 10:00 hours, was received by Cabinet Ministers, service chiefs and Patriotic Front officials.
The head of state later led service chiefs, diplomats accredited to Zambia and youths’ representatives in laying wreaths at the Freedom Statue after a 21 gun salute amidst solemn music by the Zambia Army brass band.
Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda said President Lungu recognised the important role that the youthsplayed and their contributions to national cohesion in the democratic dispensation of the country. Mr Chanda said President Lungu urged youths not be used as tools of political violence and that all future elections such as the forthcoming parliament by-elections in Roan and Bahati constituencies including council chairperson elections in Kafue to be violence- free.
He said Minister of Home Affairs Stephen Kampyongo, who is also PF national youth chairperson for security, was under strict instructions to ensure that youths in the party were peaceful and exemplary.
He has since directed Mr Kampyongo to ensure that the by-elections in Roan and Bahati constituencies are violence free.
“Any deviant behaviour is not a matter of negotiation a responsibility of Hon Kampyongo not to negotiate with trouble makers and not to seek compromise, but to ensure that every inch of Zambian soil is peaceful so that is the message from President Lungu,” Mr Chanda said.
And Minister of Sports and Youth Development Moses Mawere said Government wanted youths to participate fully in the economic development of the nation. Mr Mawere said this year’s Youth Day theme: “Zambian youth, generating unlimited” resonated well as the youths were the driving force in development, adding that government would soon enact laws which would open up opportunities for the youths to fulfil their dreams and become innovators. “The youth should not restrict themselves in acquiring youth empowerment from the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development but also to widen their search for opportunities in other ministries because all line ministries have an empowerment programme and as government we want all the ministries to have youth empowerment programmes so that youths can benefit,” Mr Mawere said.