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Mabenga urges youths to assume leadership

Mabenga urges youths to assume leadership
By Jack Zimba
Tuesday August 05, 2008 [04:00]

MMD national chairman Michael Mabenga has said youths in Zambia suffer from the syndrome of perpetually waiting in line for leadership. And Women for Change (WfC) executive director Emily Sikazwe called on political party leadership to mentor a pool of up-coming leaders to carry on the ideals of their parties.

Speaking at a workshop on leadership last Saturday at Pre-cem Motel in Lusaka, Mabenga said development in many countries was designed by young people and that time for the youths to lead was now. Mabenga also urged the MMD members that attended the conference not to perceive their critics as people bent on destroying them, but to heed their voice.

“We have invited some of our fierce critics to come and share their experiences of leadership. When people point out your weaknesses, we should not see evil and label them as untouchables. Their voices are part of the silent conscience that reminds us that no one is perfect,” Mabenga said.

And Sikazwe, who was one of the guest speakers, challenged leaders in the country to identify and nurture future leaders.

“The challenge for all of us leaders is to try and incorporate leadership values that draw the best in the members of the organisations that we lead and in addition, mentor a pool of up-coming leaders who will carry on the ideals of the movement,” she said.

Sikazwe said parties should avoid segregation but instead embrace everyone in their party structures.

“It should not be a situation of ‘us’ and ‘them’ …us leaders and them, the members. This is why in revolutionary movements world over, members use the word ‘comrade’ which symbolises equality and a shared vision, goal and motivation,” she said.

Sikazwe said women could achieve the same level of success like their male counterparts but that all they needed was space and support.

And Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) general secretary Reverend Suzanne Matale said men had been mischievous for a long time by making the gospel work for them while using the same gospel to sideline women in the Church.

“Thankfully, we now know the gospel is about liberating people rather than enslaving them. It is not about chaos and disorder but about love and unity among people,” she said.

Rev Matale said women had a lot to offer, but were in most cases prevented by religion, tradition and culture.

She said the enslavement of women was also exacerbated by male preachers who she said would rather believe in tradition and negative culture than the liberating word of God

“The sad part of this state of affairs is that women have been preached to negatively for so long that they have believed this kind of teaching,” Rev Matale said.

The workshop was held under the theme: “Women, youth and the disabled persons in party leadership.”

Labels: EMILY SIKAZWE, LEADERSHIP, MENTORING, MICHAEL MABENGA, YOUTHS

posted by MrK @ 4:12 AM