3 November 2009
CENTRAL Province Minister Ackimson Banda has expressed concern at the destructive path that the youth in Zambia seem to be taking.
Mr Banda said this in Kabwe on Sunday during the first African Youth Day celebrations under the theme 'productive youth for stability and economic development.
The minister said while the Government was providing a conducive environment to foster youth development, the latter were ruining themselves and their future.
"This is evidenced through a number of illicit activities that the youth engage themselves in. Such vices in recent times include drug and alcohol abuse coupled with unprotected and illicit sex," Mr Banda said.
The minister said such vices if left unchecked would ruin Zambia's future leaders who today should have taken responsibility and become custodians of their own country's development.
He said it was no longer a secret that children under the age of 18 had now become the largest crowd patronising bars and illegal film houses than the elderly.
"The activities resulting from this patronage are disheartening.
"To this effect, I am directing the local authorities in Central Province to work with relevant organs in curbing these vices," Mr Banda said.
The Government would be failing in its duty if it sat back and watched the young grow up into irresponsible citizens.
He said the Government was committed to initiating programmes aimed at developing the youth such as creation of youth centres.
Zambia as a member of the African Union (AU), has signed for the popularisation of the African Youth Charter, which was ratified this year by Parliament.
The minister said this year's theme was not only relevant to Africa, much more to Zambia in that it entailed that the young men and women ought to be proactive citizens by effectively contributing to national economic affairs.
Acting provincial youth development coordinator, Azele Mbewe said the main objective of the African Youth Charter was to empower youths on the continent in leadership skills and their participation in consolidation of peace and unity.
A representative of the youth, Karen Malimba said youths in Central Province were appealing to the Government to consider November 1 as a public holiday in recognition of the African Youth Day.
Ms Malimba said youths had always played a vital role in development and their recognition should be upheld.
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