Celebrating the Zambian Youth

It is that time of the year again when the Zambian citizens commemorate a very important day in the Country’s calendar of events, Youth day!  This is a extremely important day because over the years Zambians youth have made not only made significant contributions at various strata of human endeavour in the country. But again, it is the same youths who over several years have been affected by many socio-political and economic changes. These changes have a direct effect on every age group. However, the most vulnerable group is the youth who remain at the mercy of various societal changes.  

One thing that amazes me is the determination and zeal most Zambian youth exhibit to contribute to the development of our beloved country.  Surely, a segment of the population that shows such patriotism and willingness to be a part of the national agenda deserves praise. It is true that as a population, they can never be homogeneous and so are their problems.

Before going further to discuss this important matter in the Zambian context, it should be acknowledged that the fundamental challenge faced by our youth is unemployment. A critical element of the current job crisis is the struggle of young people to enter in the labour market.  I recently came across some interesting statistics on youth unemployment in not only in Africa and the World at large.  According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates, of the total 200 million unemployed worldwide, 75 million or around 40 per cent are young people. 

Young people are three times more likely than adults to be out of a job. For those who have a job, the quality of the job is another issue. If the estimated 152 million young people living on less than US$1, 25 per day were added, the number of youth in extremely vulnerable situation would be 225 million. Youth unemployment is reaching unprecedented proportions globally. Between 2007 and 2010, youth unemployment increased by 5, 1 million and in 2012, four out of ten unemployed was a young woman or man according to the ILO report. These global trends clearly show that the problem of unemployment transcends boarders and therefore should be used by all stakeholders with renewed sense of urgency for action on youth unemployment.

Again the other statistics I came across indicated that about 7, 2 percent of Africa’s youths are unemployed and an additional 46, 9 percent are underemployed or inactive (ILO). The United Nations further estimates that of the world’s one billion youths, about 850 million of them live in developing countries like Zambia. Those who were present at the freedom statue during last year’s Youth day celebrations will recall that His Excellency the President Micheal Chilufya Sata  did direct the Minister of Youth and Sport Honourable Chishimba Kambwili  come up with an youth employment action plan that will help reduce unemployment among the Zambian youth. One year down the line, it is clear that the Minister appears to have heed to the directive as seen from his commitment to ensuring that the shocks of youth unemployment  are mitigated through  systematic accessing funds under the youth empowerment fund. 

This should be about one of the many mitigation measures that should be stepped up to sure more young people escape the pangs of unemployment crisis. However, young people who access these funds should show resolve and ensure that they put the funds to good use. It is important that young people identify tangible and workable areas of investment. Some of the keys sectors that the young people can invest are the services sector, Agriculture, mining, manufacturing, ICTs and indigenous/cultural tourism that in my considered view represents an attractive routes for youth-driven small scale enterprises. Currently, Zambia has the right environment to unleash this entrepreneurship. 

One historical moment that will go down in the annals of history is Zambian’s hosting of the Zone IX Under 20 games. Having watched a number of sporting disciplines, it was impressive to see such high levels of patriotism that were exhibited at the games by the Zambian youth representatives. The lesson that could be learnt from the games is that sport is now generally a money spinner and today, some of the world’s richest individuals are sportsmen. We have the talent and have the capacity to even reach greater heights at the international level. 

With the foundation that was laid at the youth games, there is need to nurture all the youth that took part in the games to ensure that the sporting disciplines are not just a source of fitness but a source of living for the young people. In long run we will be fighting unemployment through sport. Government’s commitment to ensuring that the challenges that the young people face today is definitely undoubted and it is my sincere hope that our young people will be patient enough to respond to the Government youth agenda with a view to tackling the unemployment problem which is not only unique to this country. Zambian youth are patriotic and in every sense of the word need to be celebrated. Happy youth day and celebrate wisely!