PRESIDENT Michael Sata says youths in Zambia will turn against the government if the high unemployment levels are not addressed immediately.
And President Sata says the Zimbabwean International Trade Fair he attended in Bulawayo recently was better organised than the one he officially opened in Ndola yesterday.
Speaking before the luncheon hosted in his honour sponsored by First Quantum Minerals (FQM) at Mukuba Hotel in Ndola yesterday, President Sata said it was unfortunate that he was invited to dine with investors when a majority of Zambians were going for many days without a meal.
He said he was disheartened to see thousands of youths fighting for recruitment in the Zambia Army when the government was previously pleading with citizens to join the defence forces.
"We cannot be here enjoying this lunch while the youths are fighting for employment. We should be ashamed as Zambians because in the past, the army brass band would have to perform to encourage youths to join them," President Sata said.
He said the unemployment levels in the country were a time bomb and warned that if nothing was done about it, youths would turn against the government.
"When you see children fighting over recruitment in the army, it means they
are warning us. If we are not careful, these young people will beat us one
day with these flags we are carrying on our vehicles," President Sata said during his address to senior government officials, exhibitors and organizers of the 2012 Zambia International Trade Fair.
"When we are sitting here and eating what First Quantum is giving us, let us think of how many of our relatives have gone for three days without a meal. Yesterday I was in Chama, I saw Mr.Tom Mtine's relatives, they are as thin as a thread. They don't even know when they last ate. And here we are eating. We don't even know what to do with what is going to remain."
He said Zambia would not survive if all stakeholders, both public and private, fail to join hands to end the high levels of unemployment among young people.
