SCOTT

By SYLVIA MWEETWA-
VICE- PRESIDENT Guy Scott’s wife Charlotte, has said children must be involved in Zambia’s jubilee activities in order to shape their identity.
Meanwhile, Central Province  Permanent Secretary  Edwidge Mutale has cautioned  civil servants against staying away from this Friday’s jubilee celebrations and that she will not hesitate  to take action against  those  found wanting.
Dr Scott has further  paid  tribute  to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)  for  providing a platform by  allowing  children to express themselves  through painting.
She, who was speaking in Kabwe  yesterday  when she  paid  a courtesy call  on  Ms  Mutale, said  it was  important that  children were engaged  in such  national  events as jubilee celebrations.
Dr Scott said it was important to allow children to connect  with the country and that national events  should not be viewed  to be for elderly persons only.
“I am happy to be part  of this  important  event  because  I believe that  children  have  a say  in this  important  jubilee  celebrations  because  that  is the  only  way  it  will  allow them connect to each  other, “ he said.
Dr  Scott  later took  part  in a painting exercise with pupils at Nkrumah  training  Centre which drew  participants  from Kabwe, Chibombo and Kapiri Mposhi.
Ms  Mutale  said  civil servants  were  key partners  in  national events such as jubilee celebrations and that they are expected  to be on the  forefront.
Ms  Mutale  revealed that K244,000 had been  allocated for the jubilee celebrations in Central Province and the money has since been distributed  to  all  the districts  within the  province.
She  called on Zambians  to  set  aside  their  political and  other beliefs  in  celebrating the  day and  that independence was not for the  ruling Patriotic Front (PF) alone but  the  whole country.
Government  has  continued  to attach  great  importance  to the welfare  of  children in ensuring that  they are equipped with knowledge.
UNICEF Senior  Communication specialist Betty Nalungwe  explained to Dr  Scott   and her delegation  that  the organisation  was interested  in the participation of  children  especially  during the commemoration of jubilee.
UNICEF has covered  all the  10  provinces  and is  interested to see to it that  the  children are equipped  with skills  that could also be  used to provide them a source of livelihood when they are  grown.