It is time to stand up and be counted, Luanshya Mayor urges youths | WestMac Media

By Staff Writer, Luanshya 

Luanshya Mayor, Nathan Chanda has says it is time for the youths to stand up and be counted. 

The Mayor adds that it should not always be the parading only, but this youth day must be a unique one and show the nation that young people can positively contribute to the growth of Zambia and the world at large as future leaders of today and tomorrow. 

In a statement, Mr Chanda said youths need to fear God in order for them to have wisdom. 

“We need to be disciplined, focused and determined youths, work hard and concentrate on education because it is the key to success. As we celebrate the 2018 national youth day, I would like to take this great opportunity to urge my fellow youths to remain responsible and contribute to the development of our country,” he said. 

He further said youths should also respect parents and all the elderly people. 

“As youths we should also resist the temptation of using social media to insult leaders and involving ourselves in vices that do not build us but very detrimental to our wellbeing . In the recent past, we have seen an increase in the abuse of ICTs which is not adding any value to our lives. We need to take advantage of the global village by using social media for its intended purposes. We can use social media to create ideas and show our talents to the nation,” Mr Chanda said. 

Mr Chanda observed that most youths have smart phones, which enables them to access Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Imo and Whatsapp these applications should be embraced, expanded, widely popularized and used progressively in creating opportunities for social and economic development among the youths. “We should not just end at celebrating youth day by drinking carelessly and involving our selves in vices that do not add value to our lives. We need to promote peace, unity and coexistence. Youth day is above partisan lines, so we need to work together and see what skills we have and can show to the world,” he said. 

Mr Chanda, who is also ruling Patriotic Front Copperbelt Province Youth Chairperson said the youths are also a foundation block of any nation and as such, they deserve special recognition at every level of our society and example is what is happening where some youths like himself have been given opportunity to save in decision making position which as never happened. 

“This is the reason why I wish to commend the government for coming up with the timely theme for this year’s youth day, 'leveraging opportunities for youth through ICT', which acts as testimony of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s recognition and commitment to support the versatile and dynamic role youths play in the country’s social and economic development. There are issues that divide us and others that bring us together. It is at such functions and celebrations that we need to embrace each other and work for the common goal. There is need to continue creating an enabling environment aimed at expediting youth’s capacity to play their strategic role as champions of national development,” he said. 

Meanwhile, Mr Chanda said Government is alive to the fact that there are always people that want to seek attention by using the youths to cause violence. 

“But youths need to think outside the box. I therefore encourage all the youths, in Luanshya, Copperbelt and the country at large to turn up in large numbers and celebrate this very important day,” he urged.