Zambian youths must stop waiting for formal jobs and start building the country themselves, Kabompo East Member of Parliament Ambrose Lufuma declared on Wednesday, October 22, 2026, during the Motion of Thanks on the President's address to the First Session of the 14th National Assembly.
Speaking in Parliament, the former Defence Minister said young people should become producers, innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators if the Grow Zambia Agenda is to move from paper to reality. According to LusakaTimes.com, Mr Lufuma made the call while contributing to the debate on President Hakainde Hichilema's opening address.
Stop waiting for employment, start creating wealth
Mr Lufuma's message was blunt: the era of youths queueing for formal employment must end. Zambia's wealth will be built by Zambian hands, and those hands belong to the young generation.
He said government will continue creating opportunities for young people to acquire practical skills, establish businesses and take part in productive sectors such as agriculture and construction.
The MP, who previously served as Minister of Defence and represents Kabompo, according to his Wikipedia profile, cited the Constituency Development Fund grants, loans, empowerment programmes and National Service training as the tools young Zambians must seize with both hands.
Kabompo's economy runs on farming
Agriculture remains the backbone of Kabompo East's economy, with an estimated 95 percent of the population engaged in farming and related activities, Mr Lufuma told the House.
But he warned that farmers cannot feed the nation without proper support. He called for improved access to farming inputs, extension services, appropriate technologies, irrigation, storage facilities, satellite depots and reliable markets.
He also demanded the upgrading of feeder roads leading to productive areas in Kabompo to gravel standard, saying poor roads are strangling the local economy and blocking farmers from reaching markets.
Simbeye: public servants must deliver results
Nkombwa East MP Jairos Simbeye piled on with a message that will resonate with ordinary Zambians tired of empty offices and slow service. He called for a results-oriented public service, saying effective delivery of government programmes requires commitment, discipline and proper time management.
Public officers should focus on delivering tangible results rather than merely reporting for work, Mr Simbeye said.
Public officers should focus on delivering tangible results rather than merely reporting for work.
He commended the National Assembly for promoting professionalism and orderly service delivery, citing the conduct of security personnel and staff as the standard that should be upheld across all public institutions.
Fighting misinformation and building homes
Mr Simbeye cautioned against spreading misinformation about government programmes, particularly the school feeding programme, saying such conduct discourages beneficiaries from accessing essential services.
On housing, he urged Zambians to look beyond crowded urban plots and take advantage of land available in rural constituencies such as Nkombwa to support settlement and development.
He said efficient public service delivery at all levels is essential to restoring public confidence and ensuring that government policies benefit citizens.
What does this mean for young Zambians?
The Grow Zambia Agenda is President Hichilema's flagship development programme, and both MPs stressed that its success depends on unity of purpose among public officers and stakeholders. Mr Lufuma's challenge to the youth is simple: pick up a hoe, start a business, build something.
The President has also been pushing Zambians to put national resources to work, recently calling for active use of mining rights and setting an ambitious target of three million metric tonnes of copper annually, according to African Mining Market. The message from State House to Parliament is consistent: Zambia's wealth must be developed by Zambians, for Zambians.
For the young people of Kabompo East and beyond, the tools are on the table. CDF grants, empowerment loans, National Service training and a government that says it is ready to back them. Now the ball is in their court.
FAQ
Who is Ambrose Lufuma?
Ambrose Lufuma is the Member of Parliament for Kabompo East and a former Minister of Defence. Born in 1957 in Kawanda Village of Kabompo District, he has been a prominent voice in national development debates.
What did Lufuma ask youths to do?
He asked young Zambians to become producers, innovators, entrepreneurs and job creators rather than relying on formal employment, using tools such as CDF grants, loans and National Service training.
Why is agriculture important to Kabompo East?
An estimated 95 percent of the constituency's population depends on farming and related activities, making agriculture the mainstay of the local economy.