08/10/2024
WAS ANYONE BORN A JU**IE?
Disclaimer: Opinions about governance aren’t necessarily about politics and this particular post is very nonpolitical although addressing leaders directly.
We know the 3 aspects of this particular ministry, they specialize in managing the affairs of Artists, athletes and young people. We know Kangwa Chileshe as P.S sports & Pilato as P.S arts. Who is P.S assigned to specialize in managing the affairs of the youth?
Not all athletes and artists are youths. We have more drinking places than we have youth friendly spaces! Although it’s important to have churches, there’s many false preachers thriving in society exploiting & taking advantage of vulnerable people and among them are our youth.
We complain about the increase of “ju**ies” in our societies but who is regulating the accessibility of alcohol, to***co and other substances being abused by the youth? There’s shopping malls or complexes in places where sports facilities used to be. Those same malls sale some of the substances young people abuse. There’s little to no theatre structures, public libraries or creative centers for music and dance aspirants among young people in many places in Zambia. Alcohol is easier & cheaper to find than good books. Theres very minimal access to recreational facilities and that could be a contributing factor to the increase in substance abuse among young people.
I don’t know if the ministry has put up deliberate long term or short term policies to change things in order to combat the increased numbers of young ones becoming “ju**ies”. If there’s a P.S appointed specifically to handle the “youth” aspect in the ministry of Youth, sports and arts, why don’t we know them? And if there’s no individual holding that title in government, then I’m certain there’s still other individuals with different titles who have to pull this off because then there’s no need to call it the ministry of youth, sports and arts… If there’s a director in for the department of youth at the ministry, we need more visibility from them, a progress report on what’s been accomplished so far in their tenure working in that office. Otherwise, if there’s nothing, Just call it the ministry of sports and arts!!!
Zambia is a youthful nation. Young people have the energy and are often exploited by politicians to be divisive and violent. They are cheaply bought with beers, fabrics and T-shirts to push political agendas of some selfish privileged elders who neglect them after using them to obtain popularity during election campaigns.
NO ONE IS BORN A JU**IE:
A baby doesn’t become a ju**ie, society turns them into one because children emulate what they see adults do. Nowadays, little kids insult and fight because they see grown ups do these things, day in day out and it’s become the norm! Remember that government begins in our own homes first and foremost! Our homes collectively become communities and our communities collectively become constituencies and our constituencies become districts and those districts become towns, cities, provinces and then collectively we are a nation. It all begins at home! Before we appeal for national leaders to step in, we must ensure we are doing our part as leaders in our own homes and communities.
The appeal is simple, the same way our leaders prioritize to mingle with young people during election seasons, that’s the same way they must be in providing youth friendly spaces that will safeguard their wellbeing, growth and mental health.
Every community that has drinking places should have regulations that restrict drinking for underage youth & rehabilitation facilities for individuals struggling with addiction. Every community that has children must has safe spaces for them to play and have fun. Where are the amusement parks not just in Lusaka but other places in Zambia? Where are the public libraries, how upto date are they? There’s no way beer is cheaper and easier to access for teenagers than books, and we expect to evolve as a society.
We all are government in a democracy, it’s not just up to elected officials but all of us to work together & play a part in making our society better for young people to be in and grow into responsible adults.
Inspired by; wezi mhone
