Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport, Ronald Chitotela says Government
is committed to its citizens by ensuring that the Zambian people
freely participated in Governance matters through democratic
provisions and tenets.
Speaking in Lusaka during the launch of the ”Voice of the Youth in
Governance” report done by an NGO called 2014 in nine provinces, Mr
Chitotela said the State was further committed to making sure that its
people were efficiently served and economically empowered.
The minister acknowledged that the Zambian youth like many young
people in developing countries continue to face challenges such as
high unemployment rates, limited access to quality education and
employment opportunities as well as limited civic and political
leadership roles.
He added that the youths were also faced with high HIV/AIDS prevalence
rates, soaring pregnancies and early marriages.
‘’ The Zambian Government is aware of the above mentioned social
,political and economic challenges affecting the youth and the need
for the national policy that will provide a framework for addressing
Current and emerging youth challenges including the findings of the 2410 survey.
It is for this reason that the Government led the process of reviewing
the 2006 National Youth Policy to make it more responsive to the
current global trends on youth development and the emerging
Political, social , economic and democratic shift in Zambia’’, said Mr
Chitotela.
He disclosed that the review process took into account other national
documents such as the vision 2030 and the revised Sixth National
Development Plan (SNDP), among others.
‘’ With this focus, the interest is to provide a platform for the
achievement of political stability, economic prosperity, efficient
public service and preservation of culture, which is commendable as
It helps in the provision of checks and balances to Government and
stakeholders’’, Mr Chitotela adds. The 2410 Executive Director Brenda
Gondwe noted that Zambia like many African countries has a youth bulge
of a population structure which can be a source of unrest and conflict
if opportunities are not accorded to them.
Finnish Ambassador to Zambia Timo Olkkonen said a democratic and
accountable society that promotes human rights was one of the
priorities of Finland’s development policy which includes the
establishment and strengthening of well-function and democratic public
institutions.
‘’ In Zambia the Government has taken many measures to try to tackle
corruption and enhance transparency and accountability.
The civil society in Zambia is also playing an important role in
strengthening accountable and democratic systems through projects
enhancing citizen participation.
The Embassy of Finland in Lusaka has been partnering with 2410 since
last year and is part of a broader civil society support to promote
human rights and democracy’’, ambassador Olkkonen said.
He advised the Zambian youths to consider venturing in agricultural
activities instead of them waiting to get white collar jobs.
‘’Not too many youths want to engage in farming activities …I was
recently in Luapula province where I met old people aged over 80
years who are in agriculture while the youths are shunning to venture
in this business’’, he observed.
The diplomat stated that the inclusion of youths in democratic
processes and decision making structures in the country was very
important as the country prepares for next year’s tripartite elections
in order to avoid voter apathy.
‘’It is widely acknowledged that there are a number of challenges
currently affecting the youth, from unemployment to inability to
access life skills training , loans and empowerment funds.
The youth may also have limited information about government policies
and their democratic rights due to challenges in access to information
especially in rural areas”, said ambassador Olkkonen.