CCZ Urges young people to embrace entrepreneurship.

As the nation commemorates its 62nd Independence Anniversary, the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ) has issued a powerful call to action, urging the country's youth to look beyond conventional job-seeking and actively embrace entrepreneurship. In a statement released to coincide with the milestone celebrations, CCZ General Secretary Rev. Canon James Phiri stressed that fostering self-reliance and creating independent avenues of income generation are critical steps for young Zambians navigating a challenging economic landscape. Rev. Phiri acknowledged the commendable strides Zambia has achieved across various sectors since gaining independence in 1964. However, he noted that a significant portion of the population continues to grapple with persistent socioeconomic hurdles, notably high youth unemployment, poverty, and the escalating cost of living. He emphasized that true national progress should be measured not merely by macroeconomic figures, but by tangible improvements in the daily living standards of ordinary families and communities. “While employment opportunities and resources may be limited, we must dare to think beyond seeking employment and begin exploring opportunities to create employment for ourselves and others,” Rev. Phiri stated. His remarks underline a growing consensus among civil society and faith-based organizations that nurturing a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem is indispensable for absorbing the expanding demographic of young job seekers entering the market each year. Beyond youth empowerment, the church mother body has appealed to leaders at all levels of governance to champion inclusive development, transparency, and the equitable distribution of national resources. The CCZ argued that policy frameworks must directly target the structural barriers hindering small-scale businesses and marginalized groups. Furthermore, the council urged all citizens to steadfastly uphold the rule of law, national unity, peace, and reconciliation as foun