Sat, 10 Jun 2017 08:44:39 +0000
By Andrew Mukoma
REPUBLICAN President Edgar Lungu says that youths at the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) have the responsibility to defend democracy, the rule of law and all human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region.
President Lungu has observed that youths are the custodians of their own development and the role of governments in the region is to create an enabling environment to facilitate their development.
Mr. Lungu charged that for sustainable peace and stability in the region, young people must play their role in the development of member countries’ economies.
He observed that investing in young people is the foundation for ensuring prosperity, peace and stability adding that several countries in the region have been directly or indirectly impacted by political violence and crisis, resulting in displacements and humanitarian emergencies.
This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe at the official opening of Ministers In-Charge of Youth Affairs from the Member States of the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region in Livingstone on Friday.
“These situations, coupled with limited employment and empowerment opportunities for the youth, provide a fertile ground for recruitment of youth into extremist groups which perpetuate violence including armed conflict,” he said.
“This, therefore, calls for urgent need by the region to vigorously implement decision initiatives to create optimal opportunities for the youth.
President Lungu has since urged Minister In-Charge of Youth Affairs in the region to design programmes that would enable the youth to realize their roles and responsibilities towards their families, society, state and international community.
“In the same vein, the youth must ensure that our region is peaceful and stable. They must promote tolerance, understanding, dialogue, consultation and respect for others regards of age, race, ethnicity, colour, gender, religious status or political affiliation,” said President Lungu.
And speaking at the same event, ICGLR Executive Secretary Zachary Muburi-Muita said the youth unemployment remains a challenge in the region.
Mr. Muburi-Muita said the current youth unemployment also poses a risk to illegal migration to Europe in search of greener pastures.
He said it is therefore imperative for member states partner together and find solutions to the problem.
Meanwhile, United Nations Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region Said Djinnit charged that youth population is the great asset for the region.
Ambassador Djinnit said that there is need for the inclusion of youth ICGLR’s strategic plans and also involve in planning.
He praised the Zambian government for hosting the event saying that Zambia was the sitautable country to host the event.
