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The Youth and Politics in Zambia- Another View

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PF cadres listening to speeches during a rally
PF cadres listening to speeches during a rally

By Mingeli Palata
Just as well I was discussing the possibility of having a serious new and youthful candidate relish the prospects of presidency in the 2011 election with some youth leaders the other day. In our discourse, a number of issues came out. Of course by serious youthful candidates I don’t mean the likes of New Revolution whatever it’s called and the other self proclaimed doctor.

At this juncture, it is imperative to note that the role of the youth in politics world over has been that of agents of revolutionary change, if you look at most independence struggles and major political upsets, you will glean that the youth have played a major role in its outworking. This notorious fact is both are an asset and a misfortune for the youth. It can be used either for or against the youth as will be highlighted in the course of this article.

Today the youth are mere cadres and tools used to propel other people’s political expediency- it’s a sad state of affairs. We need not to emphasize on how the youth are sidelined in the Political realm as this has already been dealt with in the earlier article. But let’s look at this from a different perspective, what are the youth themselves doing to take a more serious role in the future of Zambian politics?

We have established that the youth are powerful forces of change; this means the onus to either be a factor or not rests entirely on us. Human beings by nature designed to be free moral agents with a free conscience- choice. Indeed the power of reasoning and choice is what differentiates us from animals. Now if the majority of the youth have chosen to be used by cunning politicians, if they have decided that it is better to drink from 6 to 6 and if they have succumbed to the dictates of politics as usual, then that is not anyone’s problem. In this case we the youth have no one to blame but ourselves because we have allowed ourselves to be used. Why do we expect the government of some super natural force to put or involve us in important national matters when we ourselves have not shown the ability or the willingness to lead?

A lot of colleagues in the various youthful circles have mooted pushing for deliberate legislation that will serve to ensure that the youth have a certain representation in key government structures such as Parliament and cabinet guaranteed. My contention is that on principle we don’t need to create space or positions for any group or association just for the sake of doing it. We already have constitutional provisions that allow each and every Zambian- man, woman, youth, disabled to participate and be represented in government structures. You can vote when you are 18, you can be a member of parliament when you are 21 and you can go for Nkwazi house when you are 35, isn’t that enough?

Yet the fact that the youth are not a factor in Zambia’s political realm is not entirely our fault. In the recent years we have seen a stronger bond between money and politics develop, the two seem to complement each other. The obviously smaller financial muscle power that most youths have has placed them at a disadvantage. The youth cannot compete on a fair and equal ground with older and much more established politicians. Sadly the marriage between money and politics is a grim reality that will continue to hinder the progress of the youth in Politics.

The challenges that face the youth in their quest to partake in the national cake are real and if let unsolved will continue to impact negatively of youth development. Until the youth wake up from their 44 year old slumber and take center stage in the affairs of this country, the situation will remain the same. The way I see it, this country is not going anywhere until, we ‘the leaders of tomorrow’ do something about the bleak fate of our country. The future is in our hands!

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

99 COMMENTS

  3. I think Mingeli is right, youth have to prove thmeselves if they want positions in government…. nothing will come on a silver plate! Wake up ba youth!

  5. Can you define YOUTH. What I know is a youth is one below the age of 35years. You can never be Presdo below that age as the constitution prescribes an age limit of above 35. So which youth are talking about Palata?

  6. Mentallity is what we need to change.

    All MPs live in Lusaka. Deputy Ministers for provinces live in Lusaka.

    Remember John Major? The man is an MP and from the time he stopped being Prime Minister, he lives where he lived before moving to number 10-Huntingdon.

  7. #2 You probably have not heard this before have you?

    How long has this been going on for? Unless you are saying you are 19!

  10. I think pipo are not getting the moral of the story here…. what this palata chap is aying is that there are adequate constitutional provisions that avail youths oportunities to led…. or that the current environment does not stop any youth from contesting political office…. read english bamabala….

  11. The parties led by the youths have failed to make any impact because the youth leaders themselves Silapwa and his cronies are useless. They are just looking for opportunities to make some money by supporting certain candidates. I know that we have youths worthy their salt. Let us put our heads together and form a formidable party. Leadership is now ours. Imiti ikula empanga. Natukula let us kick the old horeses out. No more being used.

  12. We’ve tried so many times to rise to the occassion but hey,ni pa zed baba.The old will do anything to keep their positions in high places.

  16. I think the youth just have to wake up…. just like the disabled and women… why should positions be created to to amuse certain populations… lets give pipo jobs on merit… baba…. lets debate guys… I need a challenger!

  19. I agree with # 12, Usually in Zed everything possible is done to prevent any aspiring youth from being heard. The problem is that the youth with political interest are the ones with no money. Those who are well to do have no time for politics.

  20. #18 change begins with you! dont preach change when you are in the number one talking…. lets talk what progressive ideas do you have?

  21. #19… politics is not all about money…. If you have a good proposal,,, they are pipo who can fund you…. Bwalya Chiti…. Rahjan Mathani…. you know or yes the Chinease as well…. ask RB and Sata… they rarely find theor own elections….

  23. 20 contd’, just look at all you bloggers, the ones with positive contributions would rather just criticise from the comfort of your diasporian flat. Get back to Zed and start something.

  26. Yes man. You can’t do without money in politics…. wat stops anyother youth from lobbying and getting money from the sponsors… the lobbysts? lets form a party….NOW

  27. #21, maybe you are right, but then its just that the youth will usally want to get into politics with clean conciouses, not owing some big so so a favour

  28. #23 But what are you doing here?

    Try goig back ku Zed mukayacula batata. It doesn`t matter how much you go back with. Ask yourself why Bwezani is President, VJ back from the dead and all those questions.

  30. #26 The fact that it is normal to give sugar when it is election time will always make the oldies favourites let alone the ruling parties.

    This is why we see them appointing friends and yeah relatives everytime they win.

  33. #23
    A common-sensical argument there.Why can’t everybody see?.Look at cosmos mumba.The guy complained bitterly over a small amount of money to pay for participation in elections.

  34. #28 it is true kucula pa zed. Even when you dont think of coming back you ca still support the revolution if you see progressive youths taking up the challenge in many ways. You there in the diaspora and us here can still contribute positively to the countrieschallenges

  35. ok… I am back atishani… Allow me suggest that the goverment stands funding all political parties… so that there is fair play… they do that in the US….

  37. #34 I understand what you are saying really appreciate your comments.

    What is worrying in Zambia is MMD will be around for some time. Just like UNIP was if not worse because they know how UNIP suffered after losing.

    As long we have the same party in power, it is always going to be tough to change things.
    Worth trying though. But if you can`t beat them, then just join them my friend-way it goes. Ask Derek Chitala and a few others!

  38. The problem with the youth of today is toooo much beer! Wat time can they have to think of national issues if 24/7 they are just sat at the bars! When not at the bar…they are asleep and bak to the bar again. It really pains me when I see how they are wastin their lives away…..its like they have nothin to live for….pity!! :-<

  39. Funding political parties would not work in Zed. The reason is that we would end up with aver a thousand political parties. Just look at NGOs. In Ndola alone, there is over a thousand registered NGOs.

  42. #41… The change begins with you thinking more positively… now if you are thinking like that we wont go anywhere… remmember- change begins with you!

  43. The “IF YOU CAN’T BEAT THEM JOIN THEM” syndrome should not be with us. If you cant beat them now, it does not mean they will never be. We must resolve to keep trying nad I know God is faithful one day we may just have the change that we deserve. If we all join them, then who will provide the checks and balances? I know this is not easy but where there is the will there is the way. Mwe baba misepela you have more years to live so take the bull by its horns. Bane tucefyeko boos and think about our future and that of our children. Ine but ndi ready!

  44. #42 pwele
    Thanks for the advice.Positivity is what keeps us rolling.But how do you convince this youth who finds +tivity and solace in the brown bottle?.

  45. If you want youths to participate in politics then you have to put an age limit on old politicians. I would recommend that when a politician reaches the age of 50 the should automatically be removed from active politics. This will create room and space for youths to raise up on the leadership ladder. The gov’t should then form some sort of “advisors body” for the over 50s so that they can continue to participate by offering their experienced advice to youths. I would like to believe this is a win-win solution for all.

  46. #43 I am not being negative, just realistic.

    Try it is all I can say. Yes God is great and nothing is impossible with him. But you do not go to walk on broken bottels bare feet and hope not to be hurt simply because you are a child of God!

  48. It is not about youths getting into politics that will help development of our country. Yes the youths need to be in politics and make contributions.
    But I also think that there is need to cahnge mentality of youths.
    The people that are old in politics today were once youths. What they desplay today is not what they have acquired in old age, but what was built up in them when they were young all through till now.
    Most youths now understand politics as a means of finding a living other than that of service. This needs to change in them, because if you keep planting maize in your field you must forget about harvesting rice even if you desire to do so.

  49. #41

    I certainly hope u are not in the same league as the youths am referin to. There a lot of other things that they can engage in. Its only when the youth come together and form a movement will people take them seriously. And it should not be full of hungrey youths that once approched with a few millions they are already taken and forget wat they stand for…thats wat is the problem at the moment. 🙁

  50. Cont’d from #45
    If we want to see our youths drink less beer or better still not drink at all then gov’t should limit on the number of people selling beer and must consider advicing ZB to produce less beer. another option is to raise taxes on beer and to limit opening and closing times for bars. However, the most important thing to do is to create opportunities for youths so that they have better and more productive things to do with their time. I would recommend that any able person above 18 must be given a piece of land with supporting funding and farming tools to engage in agri-business. Farming tools can be shared within a community so that everybody has equal chance and opportunity.

  52. All is crap. youth ni kwalola mwela ekofyalola. :d/ and remember that you have some youths in government such as Namulambe,mbulakulima but what are they doing? crap, isnt it?

  53. 48 cont’d…
    The calture in Zambia is very bad, and the youths need to depart from it.
    Everyone wants the goverment to develop the economy.
    When an Ethiopan/Somalian gets a K20 million he will buy a block making machine and employees a number of zambians to be doing work for him.
    With the same money, the first thing a zambian will think of is visit ‘autorec’ to buy a second hand car.
    When the Somalian’s business grows and he diversifies the Zambian turns to the govt and says they only support the foreigners.
    Yes there are cases where policies are biased, but there is much available to Zambians to do which they dont do. Priorities are misplaced in most minds of Zambians.

  54. Rashid just how do you explain a president abusing his powers by giving the youth Sugar when it is election time? They vote for him and then he suddenly goes to sleep.

  56. #53 Fine your reasoning is ludicrous to say the least. A Somalian has no uncles, nephews, sisters, brothers the rest around him. He is all by himself.

    I have relatives with very big posts back home but you sit down and feel sorry for them. Look at the number of people who are dependent on them! Incredible! It will soon be January and the amount they will be spending-God help us. All to try and send the youth to school.

    Do you know that in the UK people who can not afford go to school for free?

  57. #51. Ndekeni,
    Your goverment and all your opposition politicians were once youths growing in Zambia at some point in time.
    What they are giving you now is what they built as character when they were youths. This is why while desiring that youths quickly dash in politics may not yied the results you want to see. But their is need for values and perceptions to be revised. I wish to agree fully with #50. Anonymous. If this beer drinking youths whose values there is nothing to admire about are the ones we want to blindly fuse in politics, we are not solving any problem.
    We need to change our values and perceptions in order to expect different leaders from what we have today.

  58. Ndekeni, First of all, how are you and how was your trip? your question about Lundani distributin sugar to the youths. My dear, Lundani is a shame to zambians. 80% of Zambians have no hope in him and i can assure you that Lundani is not Presidential material.All he does is
    :o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o

  59. #56. Ndekeni,
    It is nice that your reasoning is not ridiculous.
    Now, you say that you have uncles, nephews, sisters, brothers the rest around you; are these the ones who advise you to buy a CAR instead of capital goods such as a block making machine?

  61. #57 They grew up when Zambia was not as poor as it is today. There were a lot of things the youth used to do then than now. I grew up on the CB and I will tell you that we had a lot programmes sponsored by the mines. We used to look forward to every weekend because there was just a lot to do. Now that was the government serving it`s people not the one you support now.

    There was very little time to even think about hunging out drinking or having a fag. It is no longer the case. Ask yourself why they drink a lot now than we did?

  63. #56. Ndekeni,
    I asked you a question on #59:

    It is nice that your reasoning is not ridiculous.
    Now, you say that you have uncles, nephews, sisters, brothers the rest around you; are these the ones who advise you to buy a CAR instead of capital goods such as a block making machine?

  69. #66. Nine Chale
    You are right!
    The only thing is that we need to be careful so that we do not waste time blaming the old at the expense of changing the course of events for our future.
    To decide what we ought to be tomorrow is our responsibility.
    Many people that brought revolutions in different areas of life including science and technology realised that what was obtain was not the normal for the future generation but was the normal for the past generations.
    The current generation has its responsibility to define the future as they fade away the present.

  71. “You can vote when you are 18, you can be a member of parliament when you are 21 and you can go for Nkwazi house when you are 35, isn’t that enough?”

    Indeed this is enough.

    Someone got confused about a youth being President, what a shame! A person who is 35 years old is a youth and so we can have a Presidential candidate aged 35 yrs and who can win elections and still be 35 – a youth – at the time of taking Presidential office.

  72. We, the youth, should relentlessly pursue perefction in all we do. It doesn’t necessarily have to be in politics. If we all strive to excel in our professions, business, academics, sport etc we’ll be elevated to a point where we no longer accept mediocrity. Our politics is a summation of what’s wrong with us as a society. Misplaced priorities, a high dependence syndrome, ignorance and lack of initiative are all things that our politicians have in common with the general citizenry. Change among the youth from all walks of life would inevitably trickle into and eventually overwhelm our political system.

  74. #72, you speak wisdom. The Youth can not just be fixated on politics. You must be able to prove yourself in other fields. Since you admire the US on this blogg let me remind you that you can’t become President, Senator or Governor in the US if you do not have a track record of success elsewhere eg business, Academics, sport or community activism.

    People are not going to follow you because you are ayouth (like Siulapwa or Nevers Mumba’s brother, Cosmo). People will follow you if you have a track record (like Chiluba) and a cause which they agree with and are prepared to support eg Independence in 1964 or Multi-party in 1991.

  75. ##72, you speak wisdom. The Youth can not just be fixated on politics. You must be able to prove yourself in other fields. Since you admire the US on this blogg let me remind you that you can’t become President, Senator or Governor in the US if you do not have a track record of success elsewhere eg business, Academics, sport or community activism.

    People are not going to follow you because you are ayouth (like Siulapwa or Nevers Mumba’s brother, Cosmo). People will follow you if you have a track record (like Chiluba) and a cause which they agree with and are prepared to support eg Independence in 1964 or Multi-party in 1991.

  76. 75% of the tour operators in Livingstone who are successful once had been employees and before the age of 35 became employers. The problem with the young generation in Zed is according to the comparison of a Somalian & Zambian given K20m. Right now we have the CEEC, though it has so much bureaucracy, very few will try to access. Like what was told to me in Kitwe in the early 70’s that if you want to destroy something given it to a black young African. We need total mentality overhaul if the youths are going to be imiti ikula eempanga. I was attending a funeral in Monze and on the burial day the 5 Youths demanded 40 litres of chibuku as payment for digging the grave!

  77. Here is how some youths are making it in politics at home:

    “Opposition United Party for National Development-UPND-says the party’s Former General Secretary, Tiens Kahenya’s continued participation at the National Constitutional Conference-NCC-does not have the blessings of the Party. Party National Information and Publicity Deputy Chairman, Cornelius Mweetwa told MUVI TV News that Mr. Kahenya should cease to represent the party at the NCC.”

    source: ww w. muvitv. com/ news/ Dec2008/ 20thpnews1. html

    Cornelius MWEETWA is a Youth I believe because we were together at UNZA a fews ago.

  79. #
    76. your flag Legend of the Falls, nice and serious observations there.

    The major problem is kumwa mooba (drinking beer/alcohol) and kuchiliza (partying/dancing in bars/taverns/night clubs) by Youths in Zambia.

    The first thing you hear from most youths who are your friends when you meet them back home is “‘boyi nichekeleko” (my friend, give me some moey) for you have been out of the country and you must have made money since you have been good in school.

    What wrong mentality and mindsets!

  80. #
    77. your flag Maestro Hhehhehhehhe, continued.

    “Mr. Mweetwa said Mr. Kahenya’s expulsion meant that he should be withdrawn from taking part in the NCC deliberations.

    He said the party’s position to expel Mr. Kahenya is final.”

  82. #
    80. your flag Maestro Hhehhehhehhe, continued.

    “And when contacted for a comment UPND Former General Secretary, Tiens Kahenya says he has a constitutional right to continue representing the people at the NCC.

    Mr. Kahenya said he a Zambian, who is so excited to be part of the constitutional making process as it is supreme document of the land.

    He said he will continue representing the people of Zambia until the new document is finalized.

    He was speaking in the telephone interview with Muvi TV News.”

  83. #73 & #74
    Thanks.

    Politics is not the be all and end all of life. It is all about service and enacting policies that reflect the will of the people. The real drivers of the economy are the general populace. We rightly condemn the government and other politicians for failing to address the needs of the people but at the end of the day we are masters of our own destiny. We need more educated people and more successful local businesses to uplift our own living standards. With this in place, it would actually be easier for youths to pursue political careers if they so wished as support would be readily available from equally successful like-minded people with the necessary resources.

  84. 83. Rogue Trader, let me inform you that I was part of an MIT (USA) study group which was informed/taught by the Americans that problems we have as Africans are that we personally do not want to invest in time and business opportunities,but want hand outs of all forms including donor aid, positions in all sorts of organisations and Government, etc, when we do not work hard for such.
    The current mentality for many Zambians is that S. Sikota should have been president of the UPND on a silver just because he was vice president to late Mazoka and also President RB banda had to be President just because he was late Mwanawasa’s Vice President even when the man never had had pres. policy plans.

  85. Most of the youths especially in Lusaka will not ascend to positions of importance over national matter as they are fond of quick bucks. Painfully the only source of quick bucks is when one gets used, by say RB to endorse him. But the danger with such bucks is that it quickly runs out. As long as the youths do not realise that working hard is a sure way to being independent then we must and should just forget about youths leading this country one day.

  89. #83. Rogue Trader
    I agree with you totally.
    In fact, if these youths are not showing any sense of maturity in all other aspects of life then they are not ready to engage in politics.
    Politics are about leadership and not about balancing the equation. Just like gender issues, if no women are willing to take up certain leadership roles in politics it will be wrong to force. Should there be a year when you will have very few men coming forward, dont balance the equation for the sake of it, let the women take the lead. Until each individual or class of people can prove that they are now mature by the life they lead, the achievements they have made in other spheres of life.

  90. #84 Maestro Hhehhehhehhe

    Interesting reading.

    Our poverty has caused us to lose integrity. Most people, young and old, view politics as a means of finding employment. Morality is crowded out by the desire to get money at all costs. That is why we need to work hard in other walks of life to improve general living standards and employment prospects. That way, people will realise that they don’t need to be ministers or ambassadors to earn a decent living.

    About Mr Mweetwa, I’ve met and spoken to him a couple of times. I think he is a decent guy who loves his country. Quite soft spoken but knows what he stands for. I hope that doesn’t change in future.

  91. Please, let the youths get some education first before they start jostling for positions in Government. Their talk should be of substance not just yappping that they need to be involved in politics.

  92. #
    90. your flag Rogue Trader, great posting my friend! On Mr C. Mweetwa, I am sure he will remain constant and consistent. This is actually why I have respect for the U-Team (UPND) for it is a collection of sober and educated inteligent people who have the heart for all Zambians.

    Let us just wait and see what will happen in 2011 for I wish the UPND since it is very established in the whole country after 10 years of existence to now win the 2011 elections unlike dreaming that coming up with a new political party for youths and others now for 2011 can yield results. Far, far from it for these things take time.

  95. To be very honest it depends on what the definition of youth is…here are some options.

    Young Political Cadre
    Kaponya, Under 20 years, Under 30 years, Under 40 years, single but under 50, Students / Pupils, Bibilical youth (age not quite certain, could be 100 as people lived over 500 years those years)…etc etc.

    Trust me, depending on the definition chosen, the impact of politics on the youth, will take on a very telling and different guise. So before we engage on endless bloggs, what is the Governments definition of youth??

  97. Politicians cares less about the youth in politics primarily because they know youths are not the major voting block. They know we play little or no role in poitics so even the policies are skewed towards the elderly(madalas). Just consider the voting age, you have to be a young adult in order to vote. That explains why younger people don’t evencount to them. We have the most potential. We need to come together and sound of in unison so they know where we stand and how we feel. At this point in our lives we need to work like our lives depend on it because it does. We can’t just sit on the sidelines any more.

  98. I am disssapointed at the level of ignorance by most bloggers. Which schools di you attend, if at all you never jumped through the window?

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