VICE- PRESIDENT Dr Philip Mpango has called upon the youth to refrain from activities, which go contrary to Tanzanian culture of hard work, so that they can be trusted by authorities, including financial institutions which offer funds as capital for businesses.
Gracing the Dodoma Regional Youth Conference opening on Monday, Dr Mpango said moral decay among the youth leads to activities like drug abuse, robberies, same sex relationships, corruption and conning.
He further said the youth should know that good manner and honesty are assets required by financial institutions to support them, adding: “I call upon this conference to discuss and enlighten them with their responsibilities.”
Dr Mpango also used the platform to remind parents, guardians, religious leaders, security organs and the media to cooperate and help shape the youth, so as to safeguard the country’s morals.
In particular, he added: “May, I further urge the youth to be patriotic and change mindsets toward life and money acquisition, because there are no shortcuts to riches and success.”
He said such perverted mindsets make them lose moral values and trust from financial institutions and government agencies, which might be willing to raise for them funds as capital for their economic activities.
The vice-president noted that deteriorating morals, especially among those living in urban areas, normally lead to a culture that is not Tanzanian, saying: “Dishonesty, not hardworking and desire to make quick money through illegal means are not appropriate if the youth want to build this country.
“Integrity should be the main habit of every citizen, if today they lack integrity, where will we find tomorrow’s leaders. If you lack credibility, how will financial institutions trust you and give you capital and other economic opportunities?” posed Dr Mpango.
In a related development, Dr Mpango urged the youth to participate in grassroots efforts, which fight environmental degradation and climate change so that the country ensures sustainable development.
“Strengthen environmental protection issues by planting trees, ensuring sanitation in residential and commercial areas are well promoted. Establish wastes’ collection and recycling companies or clubs, because preserving the environment and water source would mean fish and other water living organisms are safe. Don’t forget to start tree seedling nurseries as businesses, because they also pay,” he pointed out.
Likewise, the vice-president directed all councils to integrate the youth in their activities, by facilitating their access to land, so that they practice agriculture, livestock keeping and formalise their businesses.
Stressing, he instructed the councils to set aside special areas, where the youth would be trained on how to match established programmes citing in agriculture, artistry and businesses among others with their talents and skills.
Elaborating, Dr Mpango noted that authorities must link the youth with the markets, development funds like women’s development fund and financial institutions through well-tailored youth loans programmes.
He added: “The youth have good ideas, but require guidance as they are also supported with agricultural inputs such as capital.
“As these are being implemented, the councils must create youth database systems, which incorporate the skills and professions of young people so that they gain access to various opportunities and in turn contribute also in environmental conservation activities.”
To the Deputy Minister of State in the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government Authorities (RALGA) Deo Ndejembi, Dr Mpango directed him to write to all Regional Commissioners to organise youth conferences in their areas, where they will be told opportunities to tap and taught expected behaviours, which guarantee the country growth.
On her part, the Dodoma Regional Commissioner, Ms Rosemary Senyamule said that the two-day conference that was aimed at empowering the youth in the region also discussed their role and responsibilities in building the country’s economy.
She said they also discussed employment opportunities to be tapped in the authority’s strategic projects, so that they also become ambassadors to their colleagues at the grassroots.
“The conference drew in more than 3,000 youths from all over Dodoma region and they were also run on various government’s programmes and how to harmonise them with their expectations,” she said.
