STOP CALLING OUR YOUTHS ‘JUNKIES’

Chomba says unemployment, hunger and lack of skills are fuelling youth desperation, as the organisation unveils plans to train one million young people and promote job creation

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 — 3-09-2026 --  African Nations Prosperity Fund (ANPF) has warned that Zambia risks worsening youth unemployment and social instability unless government, political leaders and the private sector urgently create practical opportunities for young people.

ANPF president Tresford Chomba told Zambia24 that it was irresponsible for society to label unemployed young people as “junkies” without addressing the economic conditions that were pushing them into drug abuse, crime and desperation.

Chomba said Zambia needed to move beyond political rhetoric and invest in practical skills, entrepreneurship and industries capable of creating sustainable livelihoods for young people.

“We have our own children we are calling junkies, which is very unfortunate. The solution is on the horizon. There is hope. There is light at the end of the tunnel,” he said.

He said ANPF had engaged partners in India, Dubai and other parts of the world to develop practical solutions to youth unemployment and was preparing to roll out a nationwide skills development programme.

Chomba said the organisation planned to recruit and train one million young people, with the programme expected to equip them with skills that could enable them to establish businesses and earn a living.

“Between now, mark my words, in the next 30 days, we are going to train one million youths,” Chomba said.

He said the programme would target young people across all provinces and would be guided by needs assessments to determine the skills most relevant to individual communities.

Chomba said Zambia could no longer depend entirely on the formal sector to absorb young people entering the labour market.

“The job market has shrunk. If you get a degree today, you’re not going to find a job today. What we are supposed to get is a skill,” he said.

He said graduates with degrees and diplomas should be given opportunities in the formal sector where jobs were available, while those without formal qualifications should be equipped with practical skills to enable them to become self-employed.

Chomba said ANPF would also push for industrialisation and the establishment of industries across the provinces to create employment opportunities for young people.

“We need to establish industries that are going to absorb these young people,” he said.

He said the organisation would work with government ministries and institutions rather than political parties in implementing its programmes.

“When we talk about collaborating with the government, we don’t mean to collaborate with the UPND or any political party. We need to collaborate or partner with the ministries or the government of the day,” Chomba said.

Chomba warned that failure to address youth unemployment, hunger and poverty could have serious consequences for national stability.

He said young people who went to bed hungry and had no means of survival could eventually resort to criminal activities.

“I’m not promoting criminality, but a person who sleeps hungry today will resort to criminality,” he said.

Chomba said the responsibility for addressing the crisis should not be left entirely to government, arguing that citizens, churches, traditional leaders, civil society and the private sector all had a role to play.

He said ANPF wanted to give young people hope by providing them with practical skills and access to financing so they could establish businesses and become economically independent.

Chomba said the organisation had previously worked with government and international partners on education and skills development programmes, including arrangements that enabled civil servants to pursue bachelor’s and master’s degrees through partnerships in India.

He said ANPF had also engaged international partners to support young people after training by helping them access capital for entrepreneurship.

Chomba referred to an earlier commitment of US$100 million towards supporting trained youths, although he did not provide details on the current status or terms of the funding.

Apart from youth empowerment, Chomba announced that ANPF was preparing to introduce nano fertiliser as part of efforts to reduce the cost of agricultural inputs.

He said the nano fertiliser, D Compound and urea would provide the equivalent of two bags of conventional fertiliser and would be sold at about K250.

“This is our core solution,” Chomba said, arguing that the initiative would enable farmers to reduce the amount they spend on conventional fertiliser.

He said ANPF’s interventions were also aimed at extending development to provinces that had remained relatively underdeveloped.

Chomba, who said he was born and raised in Luapula Province, expressed concern over the level of development in the province despite it having produced prominent national leaders.

He challenged Members of Parliament to remain connected to the people who elected them instead of becoming inaccessible after entering Parliament.

“When you go to Parliament, don’t just enjoy the coffee, don’t just enjoy the tea, don’t just enjoy the luxurious Land Cruiser that you are going to be given,” he said.

Chomba urged MPs to use their positions to debate and formulate laws that would improve the lives of citizens rather than focusing on their personal comfort.

He also criticised public officials who, he said, withhold information from citizens and called for greater openness in government institutions.

Chomba said Zambia had sufficient natural resources and human capital to develop itself but warned that selfishness, greed and corruption continued to undermine national progress.

“We have the minerals, we have the waters, we have everything that God has given to us. The problem is that we are too selfish. We are too greedy,” he said.

He called on politicians and public officials to abandon corruption and personal interests and concentrate on improving the welfare of citizens.

Chomba further appealed for political tolerance and unity, warning that political violence and division could undermine Zambia’s development.

He said Zambians from different ethnic and political backgrounds had historically lived together, shared resources and supported one another, and should not allow politics to destroy that unity.

“We want peace to continue. Without peace, we cannot develop as a country,” he said.

Chomba said he was not seeking a political appointment and described himself as an “ambassador without portfolio” committed to serving humanity through development initiatives.

“My appointment came from God when I was born that I’m going to serve humanity,” he said.

He said ANPF would continue supporting government development efforts while maintaining that Zambia’s development ultimately depended on Zambians themselves.

“Zambia cannot be developed by foreigners. Zambia can only be developed by us as Zambians,” Chomba said.

He said the country needed to give young people practical opportunities and hope before unemployment, hunger and drug abuse became an even greater threat to national development.