The National AIDS Council of Zambia (NAC) has urged youths to reflect on their lives as Zambia joins the rest of the world in commemorating the World Population Day which falls tomorrow.
NAC Chairman Joshua Banda says his organisation is concerned about the behaviour of youths towards issues that hinge on reproduction.
Bishop Banda says it is saddening that young people, who are in the reproductive age group, are engaging themselves in illicit behaviour such as excessive beer drinking, drug abuse, prostitution and lack of respect for elders.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS ahead of World Population Day, Bishop Banda, who is also Northmead Assembly of God Overseer, said the HIV prevalence rate is high among young people aged between 15 and 49 years.
He said efforts to make Zambia an HIV/AIDS free nation were being frustrated by the reproductive age group who he described as the future leaders and the mirror of the nation.
“As we celebrate World Population Day tomorrow, youths should reflect on their lives and make strong decisions because society looks up to them. Instead, what we see is the opposite among this reproductive age group, drinking and prostitution is the order of the day,” Bishop Banda said.
The 2012 theme is:“Universal access to reproductive health services”.
He, however, commended Government efforts in the provision of free Anti-retroviral drugs to all affected people.
And Bishop Banda has appealed to the Zambian youths to consider their Congolese counterparts as their own brothers and sisters.
Commenting on the recent killing of a Zambian truck driver who was burnt to death in neighbouring Democratic Republic Congo, the Clergyman regretted the incident and said it is un-acceptable to allow young people to take the law into their own hands.
Bishop Banda said what is obtaining now if left unchecked will culminate in an ‘explosion’ thereby affecting the bilateral relations the two peoples and countries have enjoyed for a long time now.
ZANIS
Other than being an army of potential revolutionaries, our youths in dispensation are futureless. They are a lost Generation period. They have to seriously introspect and start a courageous match to reclaim their destiny soon if not now. There is need for self launched socioeconomic emancipation. How do you build a stable nation when all you are fueling is an economically disoriented generation? Can they marry, start families and secure the future of their children without socioeconomic solutions in sight?
Forewarning is forearming, PF chaps are in a dangerous predicament that needs serious thinkers to solve a dangerous situation. They are gambling in the hands of a revolutionary Generation that if not served, may push them all into mighty Zambezi river.
Even Sata admits all is not well. “When you see children fighting over recruitment in the army, it means they are warning us. If we are not careful, these young people will beat us one day…,” he said last weekend at the Zambia International Trade Fair.
The best way to term the youth is to give them something to do. The youth in Zambia have too much time on their hands which is not being used productively. Government should embark on serious job creation programs to keep these youths at bay. Programs such as Youth Service (Kambilombilo) should be reintroduced to cushion unemployed and help the country produce enough food and defend itself in the event of war. The youth resource should be used productively. Failure by government and the private sector to provide jobs for this young generation is contributing to high mortality rate among the youth as most of them resort to unhealthy behavior such as beer drinking, and illicit sex.
yes give them back Utujilijili
Don’t just preach love, express bibilical love. most Zambia bishops, pretend pastors, pastors are too zealous in ” relentless pursuit of wealth” at the expense of poor flock, orphans and widows. How come you the only ones getting rich. Instead of making rhetoric statements Pastor Banda find practical ways of helping unemployed youth and share that money from umutulo. Expensive cars, expensive suits, watches, you are not in America. No one says you should be ‘beggers’ you can be comfortable. Pastors Nevers, Imakando and Banda be a good examples, use your church wealth to help youth projects. Good sermons wont help much. The Gospel is very practical. No wonder you were so quite when RB was plundering. Be real God is not mocked. You are being bad example for politicians.