‘ZAMBIAN YOUTH ARE NOT ASKING FOR HANDOUT’ – LWIMBA KASONGO; OPTIMISTIC ABOUT TENURE OF PRES. HICHILEMA, SPEAKER MUTTI FOR YOUTHS, SICKLE CELL COMMUNITY
By Abayomi Oyelami, Trek Africa Newspaper
ZAMBIAN YOUTHS ASSERTED THEIR STRENGTH OF NUMBER AT THE RECENT POLLS WHICH BROUGHT IN PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA AFTER FIVE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS
For the umpteenth time, African youths have made it clear to their governments that they do not desire handouts but an environment to enable them to explore their talents. The latest call was made by Zambian sickle cell advocate, Lwimba Kasongo as she shared the activities of the sickle cell community in Zambia during the month of September dubbed Sickle Cell Awareness Month globally.
‘For the youth it’s a great opportunity. We believe the new President will produce an environment that will enable youths explore their talent and skills. The youth are not asking for hand outs. All they really want is a platform that will enable them chase after their dreams’, Lwimba emphasized during a virtual chat on popular microblogging platform, Twitter themed Reminisense the TweetChat series with Abayomi Oyelami.
ZAMBIAN YOUTHS ASSERTED THEIR STRENGTH OF NUMBER AT THE RECENT POLLS WHICH BROUGHT IN PRESIDENT HAKAINDE HICHILEMA AFTER FIVE PREVIOUS ATTEMPTS
Describing the new phase of governance in the southern African country under President Hakainde Hichilema, Miss Kasongo said: ‘It is a new dawn for Zambia. We are talking about a man of vision, a man who has run his own business before being president. I believe Zambia is in good hands. We are looking forward to see the results of the voice our vote.’
On the emergence of the first female Head of the Parliament, Mrs. Nelly Mutti, she remarked: ‘The future is female. It’s very exciting to have the first female lead parliament. She is very qualified for it, and we we happy with the appointment. I look forward to seeing her work as a speaker. Madam speaker it is now.. emphasis madam speaker’.
With about 18 million people, Zambia is estimated to have 3% of her population living with sickle cell. The country is thus ramping up efforts at creating awareness. Lwimba shared: ‘Basically like most countries we are focusing on awareness. Making people know about the disease. We don’t have many events planned, this slowed down since the inception of COVID-19. We try to utilize social media and on the ground awareness for now.’
‘Response has been very good so far. People are willing to listen, with them asking so many questions out Sicklecell. However a lot of awareness still needs to be done.’
‘Sickle cell is found in most provinces (states) with certain provinces (states) being more prominent in SCD statistics. About 3%, it’s an estimate of course, as numbers rise everyday’, the sickle cell advocate concluded.
