26/11/2025
Sometimes I feel like we, the youths of Zambia, have misunderstood what real leadership is. We celebrate being “given a voice,” but in today’s world, having a voice is no longer enough. Years ago a voice mattered because many people couldn’t speak English or express themselves publicly. Today? The only difference between the vocal and the silent is confidence.
If having a voice truly changed nations, the world would already be transformed — because the most vocal people are pastors.
But influence today comes from economic power, not speech.
Many young people want political positions, student leadership titles, or to be seen as the next big youth leaders. They have every right to dream, but we must be honest with ourselves: most youths have no economic backing, no business, no job, and no financial base. Who listens to someone who cannot influence the economy?
Before we chase political power, we need to chase personal development, entrepreneurship, and real income. Not through corruption, but through genuine work. Because when you enter leadership empty-handed, you become vulnerable, dependent, and easily corrupted.
That’s why when I see student unions having “parliamentary sessions” and taking pictures in Parliament, I don’t see empowerment. I see tokenism. Youths being used for political optics. They speak, they debate, they post pictures, but in reality, there is no real authority, no decision-making power, no impact.
For years, this show has continued — the appearance of opportunity without its substance. We must stop confusing symbolism with power.
Real youth empowerment starts with economic stability, not photo shoots in Parliament.
If we truly want influence, let’s build ourselves first. Let’s secure our pockets, our skills, and our businesses — so that when we speak, the nation cannot ignore us.
