Wed, 28 Jun 2017 14:05:03 +0000
By SIMON MUNTEMBA
YOUTH should refrain from engaging themselves in violence and excessive beer drinking, but should instead be innovative if the newly launched Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) is to materilialise and bear positive results, the opposition New Congress Party (NCP) has said.
NCP president Peter Chanda, who commended Government for unveiling the 7NDP, urged the youth to be innovative so that they could contribute to the economic development of Zambia.
President Edgar Lungu last Wednesday unveiled the 7NDP, targeting to significantly grow the economy and narrow the gap between the reach and poor.
Pastor Chanda said the unveiling of the plan was a clear testimony that President Lungu had a vision and committed to revamp the economy of Zambia.
He, however, explained that Government did not necessarily create employment but provide a conducive environment that allowed the creation of employment.
He said that Government should be commended for the five-year plan aimed at accelerating development without leaving anyone behind and ensure that Zambia become a prosperous middle-income nation by 2030.
The NCP president said the youth must rise up and make Zambia a great nation by not allowing selfish politicians to use them in vices that could destroy their future and that they must come up with programmes that could create employment.
In an interview with the Daily Nation, Pastor Chanda urged the Zambian youth at all levels to embrace the SNDP, saying the plan was progressive.
“We commend Government under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu for coming up with the progressive Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) which we think will benefit the youth in Zambia, regardless of political affiliations.
“And the youth should refrain from engaging themselves in violence and excessive beer drinking but instead be innovative if this plan is to bear fruits. We need to reach a point where we will be able to support our own budget.
“It is high time for youth to disengage themselves from the selfish politicians that are using them for violence or training them as militia because it is not healthy for the future of the country,” Pastor Chanda said.
He said the youth needed to make positive contribution to the country otherwise posterity would judge them harshly.
“The youth should take a leaf from the first republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda and freedom fighter Sikota Wina who stood up and exhibited courage to ensure that the colonial masters were defeated so that Zambia became independent.
“It is with the same vigour that the young people should rise to the occasion by being innovative and say we should no longer be called a poor country otherwise posterity will judge them harshly,” he said. He said youths needed to understand that Zambia could only be productive if they all rose up and make it great and a prosperous nation by coming up with programmes that could create employment.
