Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Media Network on Child Rights and Development executive director Henry Kabwe says youth participation should be genuine, empowering and results-oriented.
Mr. Kabwe says despite youths being celebrated, the reality is that there are many challenges that affect the young people in Zambia.
Mr. Kabwe notes that there seems an increase in child and youth-led gangs in both rural and urban areas.
He however states that with the theme, of this year’s youth day being ‘increasing youth participation in all levels’, youths have shown that they have what it takes to involve themselves in development processes.
He has since stressed the need for deliberate efforts to empower children and youths at various levels such as wards with platforms to participate in genuine engagements that government can respond to.
Mr. Kabwe has further urged youths not to beg for platforms but to take them.
Meanwhile Permanent secretary in the ministry of Youth, Sport and Art Chileshe Kangwa says the new dawn administration through his ministry has pressed focus on the plight of the youths by creating jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Kangwa has also urged different sport disciplines to be more serious and consistent in the running of their sport disciplines.
He notes with concern that most sports disciplines struggle to raise sponsorship because their books are not up to date and lack consistence, a situation he says makes it difficult for stakeholders and well wishers to sponsor such sport disciplines.
In an interview with Q-News, Mr. Kangwa dispels reports that government through his ministry only funds the football discipline despite the country having many other sport disciplines that go unfunded by the ministry of youth, sport and art.