MMD, UPND led by thieves - Sata

MMD, UPND led by thieves - Sata
By Roy Habaalu and Bright Mukwasa
Tue 13 Mar. 2012, 14:00 CAT

MMD and UPND are organisations which are led by thieves, charged President Michael Sata yesterday. During the national Youth Day celebrations themed ‘Accelerating youth empowerment and sustainable national development', President Sata said the money stolen through the privatisation of mines would have improved conditions of service for the defence and security forces.

"MMD and UPND are organisations which are led by thieves. The money which has been diverted from the sale of Luanshya Mine, Kagem, the sale of InterContinental Hotel, sale of Lima Bank and K1 trillion our colleagues are complaining of in MMD would have improved the conditions of service of our defence and security forces," said President Sata.

President Sata mocked the MMD and UPND for shunning the event when he asked the crowd to applaud them for boycotting the event. He said the successful holding of the event proved that the two parties were inconsequential.

"Don't encourage giving the youth stolen money so that they boycott this day, this is a very important day. PF victory is owed in large measure to our young generation. It is them who were among the large numbers that worked hard to bring about the desired change last year. We therefore owe them jobs by creating employment opportunities when they graduate from colleges, universities and skills training centres.

"This shall be done through equipping the youths with skills and business enterprises knowhow and finance needed for self-employment and enter into the formal sector," he said.

The MMD and UPND shunned yesterday's celebration claiming the government was persecuting its leaders.

But President Sata said those that boycotted the event were not affected by the suffering of the youth.

"When you reach a position which you have not earned you can urge the impoverished youths, the unemployed youths to boycott today because it doesn't affect you. After stealing, you buy votes, you become a president of a political party, how do you respect the youth? In PF for 10 years we did not steal. We had no shortcuts, for 10 years we went door-to door. We went in all the villages and told them our message and we have to remain with that message."

President Sata said the money spent on evacuations would be used to create employment opportunities for young people.

On claims by opposition parties that the government was employing cadres in professional positions, President Sata said everyone was a cadre.

"And please assist me, there are people who are saying we should not employ cadres. If we don't employ cadres who are we going to employ? "Because the police, army and Zambia National Service are cadres and somebody says don't employ cadres!" he wondered.

He said in the past two decades, the youths were not at the centre regarding their participation in national development due to inadequate resources.
President Sata said despite being endowed with a lot of natural resources, Zambia had continued to face staggering poverty.

President Sata said the classification of Zambia as a middle income country was meaningless if it did not make noticeable impact on the youth.

He said the pronouncements in economic performance should translate into substantial reduction in poverty indicators and creation of employment opportunities.

President Sata told the minister of youth and sport to come up with a national action plan for youth employment.

Youth and sports minister Chishimba Kambwili said the government was determined to create an enabling environment that would suit the needs of the youth in the country.

He said the government would also endeavour to create job opportunities in the country as well as pay attention to youth projects that had the potential to create employment.

And a youth Barbara Kabungila urged other youths to think outside the box and find something to do rather wait for the government to put "more money" in their pockets.

At some point PF youths sent security personnel into a panic when it was their turn to march past the Presidential dais.

The youth who came in large numbers raising their fists attempted to get closer to the dais, prompting security to block them.

The celebrations were spiced with music by the brass band and acrobatics by the youths.