Drinking Levels Among Zambian Youths Is Too High – Sidik

Ghanaian deputy High Commissioner to Zambia Braimah Adams Sidik says the drinking levels among Zambian youths is too high and Lusaka mayor Mulenga Sata says he is a reformed drinker.
Speaking when he officiated at the launch of the 6th African youth and governance conference at Mika lodge on Thursday, Mulenga urged the youth in the country to reduce on their drinking.
“Excessive drinking is among some of the things that are retarding the youths. As a reformed drinker myself, I urge the youths to reduce on drinking. I used to smoke, I was addicted to gambling, so it has been a long journey of recovery,” Mulenga said.
He said he only stopped drinking after he lost his daughter to cancer some five years ago.
And Sidik said if not addressed, the drinking levels among the youth in Zambia would jeopardise the country’s future.
Sidik called on the Lusaka City Council to reduce on the sale of alcohol, especially in places around universities and schools.
“In Ghana, the sale of alcohol around schools and universities is not allowed. Zambian people are brilliant, please just try to lower on the drinking,” said Sidik.
Speaking earlier on behalf of sports minister, Chishimba Kambwili; Kennedy Mukuka, a director in the Ministry of Sports, said a country that ignored youths did so at its own peril.
Mukuka said the youth were hungry for answers and to be heard going by a review of most events around the world and Africa.
He said the youth were seeking solution-oriented actions and policies that improve their well being.
Mukuka said the Zambian government was committed in ensuring that the young people were provided with opportunities to participate in national development through various programmes.
Meanwhile, Youth Bridge Foundation (YBF) executive director, Seth Oteng, said Africa was the most youthful continent with more than 60 per cent of the population being under the age of 35.
He said this population was expected to double by 2050 and that the challenges of the youths did not therefore, fall on governments alone, but needed concerted efforts from all stakeholders.
YBF country director, Mercy Mbewe, said there were a number of programmes that her organisation had lined up for building the capacity of the youths; among which was the African Youth and Governance Conference slated for August this year.

Posted by Kunda on May 11, 2014. Filed under NEWS, STYLE. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry