The Youth Decide
By Annabel Mumba
Annabel Mumba is AEP’s Donor Relations Coordinator in Zambia. She is a Scholarship Fund recipient, high school graduate, and also one of our Success Stories.
Zambia’s presidential election this year was one anticipated show. We witnessed the biggest turnout of voters in the history of the country as people both young and old took part in exercising their civic right and duty in choosing the country’s leader. Hakainde Hichilema, the opposition leader of the United Party for National Development, won the election with a whopping 2.8 million votes against Edgar Lungu of the ruling Patriotic Front who had 1.8 million votes. From the time Hakainde Hichilema, or HH as he is known, was announced as winner of the presidential election, the joy and amazement was evident from the people across the country. Why was it so? What caused so much joy to have a new leader? And what did the people anticipate, especially the youths, about the new leader? What is it that caused them to be overwhelmed with joy that spoke both hope and relief?
I had the opportunity to visit different students at the Amos Youth Centre to better understand what having a new leader meant to them and the hope that they hold now that there is new leadership. From the answers given one thing was certainly clear, it was evident that these young people were longing for change. They are hungry for a developed Zambia that includes young people in decision making positions. They want the voices of the youth heard, and they want a leader who will help them chart pathways of success.
Frank
Frank, a 22-year-old college student who is in AEP’s Scholarship Program and who is studying teaching at the Kwame Nkrumah University puts it simply, “I am very excited and expectant of the new president, honestly speaking, especially in the area of job creation.” Frank spoke of how the revamping of the old industries like Kafue Textiles which has been closed can give jobs to both the educated and uneducated in his town.
Mapalo
Mapalo, a 14-year-old Grade 9 student in AEP’s Scholarship Program shares the same beliefs as those of Frank. Mapalo, who has grown up seeing his father looking for part time jobs to support his family, wishes for more jobs to be created so that his father can be employed.
Nkumbu
Nkumbu, a Grade 10 student who is also sponsored by AEP expressed her joy for the victory of President-elect Hichilema. “I am just happy that he won the elections, I have seen him on TV and on my brother’s phone as he followed his campaigns on Facebook.”
Nkumbu was not the only one who followed Hakainde Hichilema on Facebook as many young people did. The president has a massive following on different social media platforms. He has an overwhelming following of 1.1 million followers on Facebook, 295.1K followers on Twitter and 37.5K on Instagram. He used these platforms as his campaign strategy and got the popularity of the youths who went on and nicknamed him ‘Bally’ which meant ‘father’. It was very common to find posts that said ‘Bally will fix it’ in his campaigning. Through this strategy he was able to tell the younger population, which consisted 80% of the registered voters, of his plans once he was made president. He promised to be a president of the youths, for the youths.
Lucy
Lucy, who graduated from the University of Zambia and currently is job hunting is very hopeful that this particular president creates more job opportunities for the young people and for corruption to be a thing of the past. “I am looking forward to seeing more opportunities for young people around the country thriving. It is very heart-breaking to see how my fellow youths are on the streets trying to survive despite having qualifications. Getting employed in my country depends on who you are connected to, which I believe to be unfair” she said.
Lushomo
13-year-old Lushomo, a Grade 8 student at Naboye Secondary School, says that he is very excited to have a new president rule Zambia. He always heard his mother complain of how expensive things were becoming, he is hoping that the economy can become stabilized and favorable for all to live comfortably. He shared, “I want to be able to buy my favorite snacks (jiggies) at 50 ng and not at k1.50 again.”
Francis
Francis, a high school graduate in AEP’s College Prep Program who wants to attend college next year, shared his thought with me on the new leader. “From the time the announcement was made that he won the presidential election, I was very happy and I celebrated with my friends. I am hoping for so much to change now starting with the reduction in the prices of goods because things are very expensive. I am a firm believer of hard work and I understand that I need to work hard first in order to see much development by the government and I encourage my fellow youths to do the same.“
Hellen
Hellen, a Grade 10 student who has been in AEP’s Scholarship Program from the time she was in 8th grade says she hopes to see a changed Zambia. “I am excited and hoping that maybe things will change and come back to normal, I have so much faith in him.” she emotionally shared.
“With this new government the youths are in charge. I hope to see young people becoming business owners, having stable jobs and developing Zambia.”
These are not the only students hoping for the best from the new government. The voices of the youths are ranging from the very young to the old. I had an amazing time talking to all of these young people and listening to their opinions concerning the leadership of our beloved Zambia. Being part of the change is important but bringing forth that change and being a part of it is phenomenal.