For Immediate Release
Date: 12th March 2024
Today, Zambia commemorates the 2024 Youth Day under the theme “Zambia@60: Be the Change”. We honour the invaluable contributions of young people to our nation’s past, present, and future. Youth Day is a time to reflect on the progress we have already made as a country in advancing many youth-related causes, despite the many challenges we have faced. It is also an opportunity to reaffirm our unwavering commitment as a country to availing opportunities to young people in order to empower them to be the change-makers of today and tomorrow.
This year’s theme emphasizes the important role that young people play in shaping the future of our country. It calls on young people to take the lead in driving positive change, innovation, and development in their communities and beyond. It also reminds us of the responsibility we all share in creating a better future for Zambia.
Young people in Zambia have always been at the forefront of social, economic, and political change. Their energy, creativity, and determination have been instrumental in driving progress and overcoming challenges. They have a significant influence in bringing about change and shaping decision-making processes, as demonstrated by their substantial presence in the recent General Elections in Zambia in 2021, which had four million young people between the ages of 18 to 24 registering to vote. Young people participated in record numbers, playing a pivotal role in the electoral process. This turnout marked the highest since Zambia’s transition to multiparty elections, with young people.
comprising over half of the electorate. In the past, we have also witnessed young people play a pivotal role in the fight against corruption. For instance, young people were at the centre of the accountability demands on the 42 fire tenders that were procured by the Ministry of Local Government in 2017, as well as the advocacy that followed the drugs scandal at the Ministry of Health the following year. Even to date, young people have continued raising accountability demands to do with implementation of CDF projects, or indeed the youth empowerment funds and other government empowerment programmes. All this points to the immense potential that young people have in being credible actors in the fight against corruption, and it is crucial not to underestimate that power and potential. For a long time now, young people have demonstrated that they have the power to fight corruption and report injustice, making them valuable agents of change in their communities and beyond.
Therefore, as TI-Z celebrates the contributions of young people to the anti-corruption and good governance cause, our clarion call is that young people will not only be recognised for their potential influence, but also that they will be given the opportunity, spaces and platforms to exert that influence for the greater good of Zambia. TI-Z stands ready to collaborate with different stakeholders to make this possible.
Happy Youth Day to the young people of Zambia!
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
