Government has described calls by some opposition political parties who are urging youths to snub the youth day celebrations as
retrogressive.
And Government has called on youths across the country to turn up in large numbers to celebrate Youths Day which falls tomorrow.
Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Mwansa Kapeya said calls to snub the youth day cerebrations should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
Mr. Kapeya noted that youth Day is an important and non partisan platform for young people to have their voices heard in shaping the future of the nation.
Mr. Kapeya said this in a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka yesterday.
The Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister said it is selfish and hypocritical for the opposition political party leaders to urge youths to stay away from the youth day celebrations, the day which he said brought some of the opposition leaders into limelight which they are now enjoying.
The Minister alleged that it was not surprising that the former ruling party was calling for youths to shun the day because it has neither the vision nor the interest of the youths at heart.
He appealed to all Zambian youths to reject such political parties as they are detrimental to their wellbeing and the future of Zambia.
He further charged that the opposition MMD has nothing to offer the people of Zambia hence its fruitless efforts to derail government programmes.
The Deputy Minister’s call follows the story which appeared in yesterday’s Times of Zambia newspaper where the opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy is quoted as calling on youths to stay away from today’s youth day celebrations.
And President Michael Sata has advised youths around the country not to adhere to calls by opposition leaders to boycott Youth Day celebrations.
Mr Sata said it was important for youths to turn up for their event as this was the opportunity to let Government know about problems facing them.
He said this at State House in Lusaka yesterday when he swore-in Sinjembela UPND Member of Parliament, Poniso Njeula and his Kalabo Central counterpart, Chinga Miyutu as deputy ministers.
Mr Sata said the MMD and the UPND had been calling for boycotts of national events including last Friday’s Women’s Day but hailed the high turn-out of the womenfolk at the celebrations graced on his behalf by Vice President Guy Scott.
“Congratulations to the MMD and UPND for telling women to boycott Women’s Day. I am glad they listened to them because they turned out in large numbers including the FDD and NAREP. They (opposition) are now telling the youths to boycott Youth Day, but I urge all the youths to turn out in numbers as well because this is the only way government can know about their problems,” Mr Sata said.
ZANIS
I can`t agree more.
The youths may not be in formal employment but that does not mean there are no opportunities to fend for themselves.
I believe Sata wants to leave the country better than he found it by strengthening institutions and creating opportunities for people especially the youth.
On the other hand, we Zambians are overly dependent on govt to provide everything for us.
For example: how long should people be entitled to fertilizer support before they can stand for themselves? If those that have been receiving this support for years don’t graduate, they leave no room for new and deserving recipients.
Sometimes its good to do an introspection before we blame everything on govt.
Right now the opposition is in shambles and cant offer hope to the people.
Both Sata and his minister Kapeya are missing the point why some sections of society are asking youths to shun the Youth Day celebrations. What is the significance of the celebrations in the first place? Do the youths have opportunities in terms of jobs and youth empowerment? The answer is no. We can go further to ask a question as to who is really celebrating on this day. It is those in power who will mark the occassion with much eating and drinking in plush hotels. The youths will only be there to listen to meaningless and hopeless speeches after which they will be forgotten. Yes, the youths should shun the celebrations because this occassion does not belong to them anymore.
After EXIT from AFCON 2013, no news of any soccer events how can u beat lesotho like this….fake and short lived ever AFCON JUJU Champions 2012
panyoko youth day and afcon were is the connection?
THAT ‘S WHAT WE CALL HALLUCINATION @ANYOKO. SHUNNING SUCH A DAY IS STUPIDITY. PF ATTENDED ONLY THAT MMD USED TO BEAT THEM UP. WHAT WE HAVE COME TO KNOW IS THAT WHATEVER THE RULING PARTY DOES IS NOTHING .BUT THAT WON’T HELP THEM.
What’s there to celebrate? Poverty,unemployment,bitterness,hunger .
Some opposition politicians are simply useless. They tell the youth to snub their day, and yet when they call for rallies, the same politicians call on the youth to attend in numbers. Hypocrites!!!! Fortsekiii
Mdala Kapeya, Nakondwera ngako kuti naiwe unayamba kudya mbewa. That’s why unali ku Chipata ku Radion Maria. Koma bwino, osadya makoswe…….
@Agoni, I AGREE WITH U 100%.THE OPPOSITION POLITICIANS ARE USELESS. DEY WANT DEMOCRACY IN ODERS WHILE DEMSELVES ARE LITTLE ND USELESS TINPOT DICTATORS. WHY SHOULD THEY BAR THE YOUTH FROM ENJOYING THEIR RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE? THAT’S WHERE KING C. BEATS