PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema says if there was a shop selling age, he would gladly spend millions of Kwacha just to buy back his youthful years so he could do the many things he believes young people today have the privilege to do.
Speaking during a Youth Indaba held in Lusaka yesterday under the theme “Arise and Soar,” Hichilema urged young people not to underrate their potential, saying youth itself is one of the greatest advantages anyone can have in life.
The Head of State said many young people mistakenly think their age is a disadvantage when in fact it is the perfect time to take risks and pursue big dreams.
“I can tell you, if there was a shop or a market where one could go and buy age, I would pay a lot of millions of Kwacha to buy young age so I can do the things that I couldn’t do when I was young,” said Hichilema.
The President told the youths that innovation and entrepreneurship are often driven by young people who dare to think differently.
He cited global innovators such as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, who started building technology from his parents’ garage while still young despite being encouraged to return to school.
President Hichilema said Gates believed he was developing something that would help transform education across the world, a dream that eventually materialised.
The Head of State said even in his own life, he started working for himself at the age of 27 and believes he could have begun even earlier.
“I started working for myself when I was 27 years old, just like many of you here. Never say you are too young to start a business,” he said.
“If I was to start again, I would start working for myself at 23 or 24. I missed out on a few years.”
The President said young people must take advantage of the freedom they have at a young age to experiment, build businesses and pursue innovation without fear.
“When you are young, nobody pays too much attention to you. That’s the time you can do great things,” he said.
“You will miss doing things as a young person and later regret when you grow older.”
Mulungushi International Conference Centre yesterday hosted hundreds of energetic young people who gathered for the Youth Indaba under the theme “Arise and Soar”.
Story and pictures by George Musonda
Kalemba February 7, 2026
