A Copperbelt based artiste Pilato says the future belongs to those that plan for it.
He says if one doesn’t plan for the future they will never know when it has come.
Pilato real names Fumba Chama alleges that Zambian population is mainly composed of young people, young men and women and it is these young people that have the energy to change the direction of any country.
“Zambia today has the abundance of youth energy which can work miracles if properly tamed and put in good use,” he says.
However, Pilato laments that it is very unfortunate that today political parties have turned youths into political bullets used to kill and harm other political opponents.
He further says political parties don't see the youths as resources that can be useful in the creation of a great country but as weapons of violence and terror.
“The youthful energy that should be utilized in farms is used in political battles. The youthful energy that should be utilized in our industries is used in dancing for political leaders but the question is how do we plan to have a great future?” he wonders adding that the government remains a factor in this equation because they have the power to capture this youthful energy and utilize it in more beneficial ways.
Pilato further says government and any other government to come should realize that youthfulness is a resource which must be taken care of just like the copper in the mines.
“As a country we have lost millions of dollars in revenues from copper so we can't afford to lose any of the youth energy,” he says.
He suggests that instead of giving money to cadres that perpetrates violence, they should be empowered with small pieces of land and those that can venture into farming should start farming now.
Pilato also wonders why government is always looking for security guards and why hired cadres; muscle men and ‘panga’ boys are not given jobs in the Zambia army and police service.
He alleges that Zambia has the most talented youths in acting and filmmaking.
“Why not make ZNBC a great source of employment by making it a priority to buy 90% of local productions so that we empower our local arts and preserve our own culture? ZNBC shouldn't be exporting dollars in buying content from anywhere when our country needs that same dollar and employment,” he suggests.
He further suggests that government should make education accessible to everyone.
“This type of investment will in the end broaden the tax base for the country so instead of just dishing out money to the vulnerable youths put them in a formal system that can contribute back into the system,” he explains.
Pilato has since urged young people to wake-up and start taking their positions of power now.
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