Zambia to host scouts regional conference, youth forum

The Zambia Scouts Association will next year host the 40^th southern zone scout conference and the eleventh youth forum in Lusaka.

National Scout Commissioner James Daka said the southern scout zone comprises Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia.

Mr. Daka said the mandate to host the event, which is done on a rotational basis by member countries, was bestowed on the association during the 39^th southern zone scout conference and the tenth youth forum in Gaborone in Botswana from the 11^th to 12^th April and 13^th to  14^th April, 2013 respectively.

He told ZANIS in a statement in Lusaka today that the event whose theme was “youth challenges in the 21^st century,  alcohol, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment” attracted delegates and observers from all the member countries.

Among the invited member countries, Zambia had the biggest delegation with 11 delegates.

He said the Zambian delegation comprised of Mthethwa Moyo of Mansa, Sophia Bombwe of Solwezi, Robby Zulu of Kapiri Mposhi, Timothy Banda and Patrick Lungu both of Lusaka, Hellen Kalaba of Kitwe, Deborah Simwinga of Kabwe, and Margaret Sichisambwe of Chinsali.

Others were headquarters staff member Tasila Phiri, National Scouts Commissioner committee member Webster Diangamo and the delegation leader James Daka.

Mr. Daka said during the two events, Ms. Patricia Lungu was elected committee member to the southern zone scout youth forum committee while Mrs. Sophia Bombwe was elected as Vice President of the Southern zone scout region.

He said the conference ended with a call to increase the number of youths involved in decision making positions in their various national scouts organisations.

He said the conference also called for the review of the youth programmes to meet the expectation of the 21^st century youth and called for the reformation of the organisation of the conference.