YOUTH DAY STATEMENT
Fellow young people of Zambia,
Today I address a generation that has been ignored, exploited, disappointed, and lied to, yet still stands. Young men and women of Zambia whose hopes have been delayed by bad leadership, whose energy has been abused for political convenience, and whose future has too often been treated like a campaign slogan.
Zambia is a youthful nation, but our young people have been pushed to the edges of national life. You are called upon when it is time to fill rallies, defend politicians, and make noise during elections. But when it is time to lead, to decide, and to benefit, you are told to wait.
Enough is enough.
For too long, youths have been used as tools of violence, intimidation, and manipulation. You have been promised jobs, empowerment, and opportunities in exchange for votes, only to be forgotten the moment elections are over. That cycle must end.
You deserve better.
You deserve respect.
You deserve freedom.
You deserve opportunity.
And you deserve your rightful place at the centre of national leadership and development.
You are not only the leaders of tomorrow. You are the leaders of today.
As a young man myself, and as a lawyer who believes in justice and the rule of law, I stand ready to work with the youths of Zambia to restore dignity, hope, and opportunity in our country.
My promise is clear.
Under our leadership, the youth of Zambia will not be used as political tools. You will be respected as citizens. You will be involved in leadership. You will be empowered through skills, enterprise, agriculture, and technology. We must build a Zambia where young people are trained to create, to innovate, to farm, to build businesses, and to compete in the new digital economy, including the age of artificial intelligence.
We must also defend freedom of speech and freedom of thought. A frightened youth population is easy to control, but impossible to develop. Young people must be free to speak, to question, to organise, and to participate fully in democracy without fear.
Let us remember this: Zambia's independence was won because young men and women refused to accept injustice. In 1991, young people rose again to help bring democracy. And today, history is calling upon this generation to rise once more — lawfully, courageously, and with purpose.
The time has come to reject fear.
The time has come to reject manipulation.
The time has come to reject oppression and abuse of power.
The time has come for the youths of Zambia to claim their rightful place in the life of this nation.
This year's theme says, Arise and Soar.
I say to you today:
Arise above fear.
Arise above exploitation.
Arise above despair.
Arise and take your place.
Together, let us build a new Zambia governed by justice, opportunity, freedom, and respect for the rule of law.
The future of Zambia belongs to you. And the time to act is now.
May God bless the youths of Zambia.
May God bless the Republic of Zambia.