Zambia will not move an inch in 100 Years: Change Mindset

Zambia might not move an inch in the next 100 years if no serious introspection is taken into account. The country has literally been in reverse gear in the last fifty years. The productive generation of our times has not been inspirational at all inclusive of the writer. The generation has been material driven at the expense of national pride and devotion to one's country. Zambia with a few graduates and individuals with humble education at independence witnessed unprecedented levels of development and terms like corruption were none existence on the jaws of the citizens of a once flourishing country but this has now become a lifestyle and generally acceptable. Several people go unpunished for their crimes in this country because no one just seems to care.Our leaders are ever trooping to and from the courts of law; the moral fiber of our society is ever deteriorating. Additionally, fifty years on after so many graduates in the country, the country is languishing in high poverty levels. It was always embedded in the altar of my heart that education was a key to success nevertheless, is this so for Zambia? Corruption has become a metaphor of a once cherished society where hard working was a corner of our society, upon, which we built our strong foundation, as a people. We, as a people have created so many shortcuts to success especially among the productive group of our society. Our wealth creation and accumulation is overtime and cannot be explained or justified. Just even our quest to adopt a people driven constitution is donor driven, what would have happened if our founding fathers and many more civil rights activists had mortgaged their aspirations, thoughts, ideals and those of their people to their donors? Surely, independence would not have actualized. As Zambia marks yet another memorable day on its calendar in remembering the contributions and efforts of the young people in the last fifty years, honestly, there has not been any significant progress in the welfare of an average youth in the country, our existence, as a generation is rough but what have we done to improve the status quota, as a generation? In the midst of blazing guns and bombs coupled with numerous challenges did our people just fold their arms to watch the country generate in unabated slavery? No, the very challenges that our forefathers faced was enough motivation to justify their quest for an independent nation, where freedom and liberty shall prevail over everything, as is the case now. Youth Day, What was new? Maybe, the only thing was good looking Minister of Youth, Vincent Mwale and Acting President Ngosa Simbyakula. Undoubtedly, it has now become difficult for young people to appreciate the existence of the day owing to numerous challenges that continue to cloud their immense contribution. Unlike fifty-years ago, many young Zambians are a shadow of themselves and fail to blossom for what they are destined for, as they continue to grapple with unemployment despite their academic qualifications. Employment creation is now merely a promissory note from those charged with the responsibility to do so. Additionally, the perennial youth celebrations are more rhetoric and short of incentives to address the challenges that young people of today face. There is no hope or inspiration to propel this generation a platform to positively contribute to the development of the country thus rendering young people mere spectators in key sectors of the economy if that loan award is based on political patronage. Our education curriculum still remains archaic and does not take into account modern survival trends such, as establishment of enterprises to grow the economy. This should be quickly worked on to ensure active participation of the young people to refuel the wheels of the declining economic prospects. I mean entrepreneurship. African governments have shown that they have no capacity to create employment overtime. We are crying about our local currency not performing so well when huge investments are the hands and armpits of the foreigners. We are literally dancing to their tunes when it comes to the exchange rate. We can only term ourselves “economic refugees” in our own country. Economic emancipation remains key for Zambia through the productive generation. What serious innovations have surely emerged out of the Universities and colleges, as a solution to the ever increasing unemployment levels? I am sure none, we have no testimonies of our own, as a nation from these innovations…….. Young people nowadays are being employed, as agents, aggressors and conveyors of violence and mere political stooges, this is primitive to say the least. The focus world over at the moment is more about competition of ideas in technology, fashion, sports and not guns or stone throwing. Political independence was long achieved by our forefathers and economic emancipation is crucial to get our people out of the poverty doldrums, a responsibility which squarely lies on the young people, as a productive generation. What do we have to show our prospective generations, as achievements? The record for our failure, as a generation is too huge to bear. Zambia, the land of plenty yet so poor! Watch out the next article on digital migration