President of Zambia, Michael Sata has directed that Zambia National Service (ZNS) should accelerate the opening up of more training centres to accommodate more youths for skills training. This, according to him, would enable more youths to be resourceful and create jobs for themselves.

The President made this call during the commissioning parade of ZNS officer cadet intake 03 of 2012 held at the ZNS training camp in Kafue yesterday.

Mr Sata said key on the list of ZNS responsibilities was the training of youths in life sustaining skills. The huge influx of youths during the selection of each intake should be a constant reminder to the commandant that there were a lot of youths who needed to be equipped with skills and create job opportunities.

 The 136 officer cadets with a 30 per cent gender representation had undergone 13 months of military training at the camp.

“My Government is cognizant of the fact that for this youth skills training programme to have a significant impact on the country’s high unemployment levels, the youth need to be empowered with tools and resources after they complete their training to help them easily integrate back into society,” he said.

Furthermore, the President said the ZNS is a strategic organization that was well-placed to help his administration address developmental challenges the country was facing.