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LUSAKA, Sept. 15 - We wish to announce that we welcome and shall support the Government nomination of Zambia’s Ambassador to the United States of America, Dr. Inonge Mbikushita Lewanika as the country’s candidate to the elections for chairperson of the African Union Commission which takes place next year.
We are certain that considering her vast experience at several levels where she has effectively worked in the past and her current position as Ambassador to the USA, Dr. Inonge once elected, need to help drive among some of the various challenges, domesticating the African Youth Charter which was passed and launched by the African Union Commission in 2006. This would be the bedrock for future development efforts in all of Africa and the SADC region. The African Youth Charter is the first of it’s kind and it is a strategic framework for youth development programming on the continent of Africa. The Charter provides for virtually every area of youth needs including the role of youth to the development of the continent. And very importantly, the Charter seeks to unify the youth movement so that they can effectively contribute to the continent’s development processes.
As Development Partnership International-DPI Zambia, we believe Africa’s greatest resource is it’s youthful population and that through their active participation and empowerment, Africans can surmount the difficulties that lie ahead. As such, if Dr. Inonge became the chairperson at African Union Commission, dialogue around the Charter can be stimulated in order to ensure that the components of the Charter are well understood and effectively utilized. If elected, Dr. Inonge will have to face the challenge of ensuring that she propels the ratification of the Charter in member States of the African Union.
It must be noted with sadness that the pace at which Zambia and other African countries are moving to meet target 16 of Millennium Development Declaration 8 which states that ‘in cooperation with developing countries, develop and implement strategies for decent and productive work for youth,’ looks very uncertain and unattainable by the year 2015.
That’s why the Government nomination of a woman and mother with experience, Dr. Inonge Mbikushita Lewanika as Zambia’s candidate in the election for the African Union Commission Chairperson next year is okay and we shall give our support to Government lobby efforts both at home and outside. The candidature should be supported by all Zambians and other African Union member States. African leaders are challenged with facts that the future of this continent’s development depends on how effectively they empower the continent’s youth in social, economical, and political and cultural rights around education in skills phenomena, today.
We must also challenge the African youths that they can never be given the empowerment if they do not stand-up to struggle for it in battles free of physical strength. Empowerment has to be fought for through effective dialogue with the leaders and youth partnership among progressive segments of our community. And we must also, as Development Partnership International-DPI Zambia, rally our support behind Global Justice International-Zambia director, John Phiri who has been chosen as a representative of African youths for the European Union Africa strategy meeting to be held in Brussels next month.
For details, contact; Richard Musauka.
DPI-Zambia Media and Strategy Coordinator. Development Partnership InternationalLottie House, 7th Floor, Room 715.
Phone +260 97119496, 01237401
www.developmentpartnership.org
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Mandevu