Sports Minister canes scouts body

Youth and Sports Minister Vincent Mwale says government is concerned that the Zambia Scouts Association has been engulfed in leadership squabbles in the last six years.
Mr Mwale said the leadership squabbles have hindered the youths from benefitting from the Scouts programmes because the Association had been suspended.
ZANIS reports that the Youth and Sports Minister was speaking in Lusaka March 28th at the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) at the extra ordinary meeting of the Zambia Scouts Association.
This was in a speech read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Director for Youth Development Collins Mulonda.

Mr Mwale disclosed that no major activities were conducted for the youths during the suspension of the association.

He observed that the association lost programme opportunities for training the youths both locally and internationally.

However, Mr Mwale has since appealed to the incoming Zambia Scouts Association executive to put aside their personal interests and instead promote those of the youths.

He said it was the role of the Scouts movement to empower the youths with knowledge and survival skills for their future use.

The minister said government will continue to provide policy direction as stipulated in the national youth policy.

Meanwhile, Mr Mwale has directed the incoming executive to reposes properties that have been sold which belonged to the Scouts Association.

The minister said it was the duty of the executive committee members to safe guard the properties that belong to the movement in all the provinces and districts.

He said any one who will be found wanting in the sale of the properties of the association will face the full wrath of the law.

And Mr Mwale has urged the incoming executive to strive in coming up with youth programmes that will keep the youths away from engaging in bad vices.

The extra ordinary meeting of the Zambia Scout Association was attended by the Scout Bureau Africa regional office and delegates from Kenya.