Government Urges Zambian Youths to Reject Political Violence Ahead of August Elections

Information and Media Minister Cornelius Mweetwa has called on Zambian youths to resist being weaponised for political violence, urging them instead to channel their energy into national development as the country approaches its August general elections.

Speaking during Youth Day commemorations in Choma, Mweetwa — who also serves as Chief Government Spokesperson — said young Zambians hold significant power to help eliminate both violence and corruption from the country's political landscape. He was direct in relaying the President's message: "President Hichilema is calling upon all the youths of Zambia to frown upon and detest violence and electoral corruption."

Mweetwa made clear that the government expects elections to be contested on substance, not money. "We want members of parliament who will be elected on the basis of merit and capacity to represent their people in parliament — not on the basis of how much money someone is dishing around," he said.

The message was unambiguous: youths should be architects of a better Zambia, not instruments of those seeking to buy or bully their way into power.

Elsewhere, Southern Province Minister Credo Nanjuwa echoed the sentiment at Youth Day celebrations in Itezhi Tezhi, reaffirming government's commitment to sustaining programmes designed to improve youth welfare and expand opportunity for young Zambians across the country.