Grade 12 learners at Meheba Boarding Secondary School in Kalumbila District were told on 31 October 2026 to build their own futures with skills, discipline and hard work instead of waiting for someone to hand them a job. The message came straight from the district education authorities at the school's Eighth Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2026.
Education Standards Officer for Special Education Exildah Biemba, speaking on behalf of District Education Board Secretary Thompson Lungu, told the graduands that a certificate alone will not put food on the table. She said education must prepare young Zambians to identify problems in their communities and solve them with their own hands.
Knowledge That Serves Zambia First
Ms Biemba urged the graduates to turn to agriculture, entrepreneurship, technology and other productive sectors rather than depending solely on formal employment, according to LusakaTimes.com. That is the right message for our young people. Zambia's wealth is in her land and her people, not in the offices of foreign NGOs or the promises of outsiders.
She reminded the graduands that government has put real tools in their hands: the National Youth Policy, Technical Education Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training (TEVET), and skills development bursaries under the Constituency Development Fund. The Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board is also there to finance eligible students at public universities.
„Use the knowledge and skills acquired to create opportunities for yourselves and contribute meaningfully to your communities,“ Ms Biemba told the young graduates.
She also warned them bluntly against drug and alcohol abuse, gambling and violence, saying destructive behaviour could destroy everything they have worked for. Success, she said, requires discipline, integrity, humility and perseverance, more than academic qualifications.
A Son of Meheba Shows the Way
Hope Beyond Borders Initiative Secretary General Michael Matanda, himself a former Meheba pupil and a graduate of Cavendish University Zambia, gave the graduands a living example of what determination can do.
Mr Matanda told the crowd his own story: he struggled to read in Grade One, and through faith, determination and hard work he earned a university degree. He told the graduates never to let their present circumstances decide their future.
„Young people should remain focused even when faced with financial and other challenges,“ he said.
He disclosed that Cavendish University Zambia produced 105 refugee graduates this year, and more than 30 of them came from Meheba. Nine of the twelve founders of Hope Beyond Borders Initiative, a legally registered refugee-youth-led organisation, are also former pupils of the school.
So far the organisation has helped 25 young people secure scholarships, including four studying in Kenya. It supports young people through mentorship and scholarship guidance, helping them find educational opportunities and prepare strong applications.
Mr Matanda also pushed a modern message: acquire digital skills and embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, to remain relevant in a fast-changing world. Build relationships with mentors, teachers and professionals, he added, because guidance and networking open doors.
What This Means for Our Youth
Here is the plain truth for the Class of 2026. The graduation was held under the theme „Equipped to Serve, Empowered to Transform,“ and that is exactly what Zambia needs from this generation. Too many of our young people have been taught to look outside the country for validation. The speakers at Meheba said the opposite: look at your own land, your own skills, your own communities.
Government programmes like CDF bursaries and TEVET are Zambian solutions built for Zambian youth. Use them. A young person in Kalumbila who learns a trade, starts a business in agriculture or technology, and employs others is worth more to this nation than any imported blueprint from foreign experts who do not know our soil.
School Leadership and Parents Praised
Headteacher Musanya Musanya thanked parents, teachers and stakeholders for supporting the learners through their five years at the institution. He wished the graduands success in their examinations and urged parents to keep encouraging them as they chase their ambitions.
He called the graduation an important milestone in the learners' academic journey and told them to stay focused on their dreams.
Parent-Teacher Association Chairperson Japhet Bunda Bunda also thanked parents and stakeholders for their continued support towards the school's development, and echoed the call for discipline and focus among the learners.
The ceremony brought together school administrators, parents, teachers, education officials and other stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of the Class of 2026.
Questions People Are Asking
Where is Meheba Boarding Secondary School located?
Meheba Boarding Secondary School is in Kalumbila District in Zambia's North Western Province. It held its Eighth Graduation Ceremony for Grade 12 leavers on 31 October 2026.
What did education officials tell the graduates?
Exildah Biemba, representing District Education Board Secretary Thompson Lungu, urged the graduates to embrace skills development, entrepreneurship, discipline and innovation, and to avoid drug and alcohol abuse, gambling and violence.
What support programmes exist for Zambian youth?
Government programmes include the National Youth Policy, TEVET, Constituency Development Fund skills bursaries and empowerment initiatives, plus loans and scholarships through the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board.
Who is Michael Matanda?
Michael Matanda is Secretary General of Hope Beyond Borders Initiative, a refugee-youth-led organisation. He is a former Meheba pupil and a Cavendish University Zambia graduate whose organisation has helped 25 young people secure scholarships.
The next step for the Class of 2026 is their final examinations, and then the real work begins: building a Zambia that stands on its own feet.