. MAJORETTES file past Acting President Ngosa Simbyakula (inset) at the Freedom statue during yesterday’s commemoration of Youth Day in Lusaka. Pictures by SAM PHIRI and EDDIE MWANALEZA

By DELPHINE ZULU, MOFFAT CHAZINGWA, JULIUS PHIRI, CHILA NAMAIKO and JAMES KUNDA –
ZAMBIAN youths yesterday commemorated Youth Day with the Government urging them to rise above political, religious and tribal affiliations.
The youth have been urged to emulate the forefathers by working hard towards the economic liberation of Zambia.
President Edgar Lungu said youths needed to be the engine for social-economic development and use their youthful energy, creative innovations to help better the country than being used as tools of violence.
In a speech read for him by Acting President Ngosa Simbyakula during Youth Day celebrations at Lusaka’s Freedom Statue yesterday, Mr Lungu said youths played a critical role in shaping the economy but were under playing it due to their political, religious and tribal inclination.
“As leaders we should endeavour to reposition the youth from being on the streets to building a stable and sustainable future.
“In this regard my Government has commenced the development of the first ever National Strategy on youth empowerment and employment to comprehensively address issues of youth unemployment,” Mr Lungu said.
This year’s theme is “Building a Stable and Sustainable future.”
President Lungu said his Government would ensure that it implemented prudent fiscal and monetary policies that would ensure that the nation grew the economy at an average rate of 10 per cent per annum.
Youth unemployment was one of the major problems the country was facing and Government would continue to attract and protect both foreign and local investment in growth sectors as articulated in the industralisation and job creation strategy.
“My Government will continue to put in place mechanisms that will ensure that projects are spread throughout the country to ensure opportunities and wealth created by these initiatives is not just available to urban youths but to those in rural areas as well,” he said.
The Government had prioritised the promotion and implementation of pro youth initiatives such as youth entrepreneurship, skills development, creation of youth employment opportunities and others.
Government was working on increasing access to quality and equitable education and skills development relevant to the aspirations of the youth and society.
Youth and Sports Minister, Vincent Mwale urged youths to reject tribalism and political differences and promote unity of purpose to liberate Zambia from poverty and unemployment.
Mr Mwale said this year’s theme “Building a Stable and Sustainable future,” is a call to the Zambian youths to take centre stage in the socio economic development of Zambia.
In a vote of thanks, Philimona Maluti a grade twelve pupil at Kamwala Secondary School said the youth were happy that Government had accelerated the distribution of youth funds.
In Choma, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Chishimba Kambwili called on the youth to remain focused and desist from engaging themselves in divisive tendencies which have potential to disrupt national unity.
Mr Kambwili, who is also Chief Government spokesperson, said Government was implementing many empowerment programmes to uplift the livelihood of young people.
The Youth Development Fund (YDF) was one such scheme which was a vital window for youths to access finances for viable projects.
“I therefore, appeal to all our cooperating partners to deepen and sustain their support and collaboration with the Government in building a better and brighter future for our youths and the country at as a whole,” he said.
More than 120 youths groups and individuals in Southern Province have benefited from YDF which was a clear demonstration of Government’s commitment to empowering youths.
The minister urged the provincial administration to secure land through local authorities and chiefs to establish more youth skills training centres.
He hailed United Party for National Development Choma Member of Parliament Cornelius Mweetwa and his party members for turning up to attend the Youth Day which was the key to fostering unity.
In Chipata, Home Affairs Minister Davies Mwila said the youth were the major drivers of any economic development of the country.
Mr Mwila said during the Youth Day commemoration held at David Kaunda Stadium in Chipata that any development of the country could not be done without the involvement of the youth.
Mr Mwila said the Youth Empowerment Fund was not a political party vision but was for the youth regardless of their political affiliation.
He challenged the youth in Eastern Province to take advantage of the empowerment fund to apply for their sustainability.
Local Government Minister John Phiri who officiated at the celebrations in Kitwe warned youths against being used as pawns by selfish politicians.
Dr Phiri said young people were the majority and that their contribution to the development of the nation was vital hence the need for them to desist from falling prey to politicians with selfish interest.
Copperbelt Permanent Secretary Howard Sikwela said the Government was committed to empowering young people as they were future leaders.
“It is for this reason that Government has introduced the Youth Development Fund (YDF), an initiative that has so far benefited 140 youths in the province,” Reverend Sikwela said.