29/04/2026
YOUTHS GUARD YOUR TONGUES, PROTECT YOUR DESTINY
My dear young Zambians,
I write to you not from a pulpit, but from a place of deep pastoral love and national concern. As a priest, I have watched with a heavy heart as many bright, promising young people have fallen into a trap—one woven with threads of political passion, peer pressure, and the illusion of anonymity on social media.
I see you. I pray for you. And I am troubled when I read posts and comments where young people insult not only ordinary elders but also the highest office in our land—the Office of the President of the Republic of Zambia.
The Cyber Law Is Real, and It Is Here to Stay
Let us not deceive ourselves. The days when insults were dismissed as “just jokes” are over. Zambia has enacted cyber laws that carry serious penalties—including imprisonment. We have already witnessed young people, some barely out of secondary school, being handed custodial sentences simply for posting insulting content about the President or other leaders.
This is not a rumour. This is the law. And the law is not sleeping.
When you type that angry word, record that sarcastic video, or share that mocking meme, you are leaving a digital footprint that can and will be used as evidence. Before you press “post,” ask yourself: Is this worth my freedom?
Respecting the Office of the President Is Not Weakness
I understand that you may disagree with decisions made in Government. You may feel frustrated, angry, or unheard. That is your right as a citizen. But disagreement is never a license for disrespect.
The Office of the President represents the sovereignty of our nation. Whether you voted for the current occupant or not, that office deserves honour. To insult the President is not only illegal—it is to cheapen the dignity of the nation itself.
The Bible teaches us to honour those in authority. That is not blind obedience; it is wisdom. When you insult a leader, you do not weaken them—you weaken yourselves.
You Are Destroying Your Own Future
This is what breaks my heart the most. Instead of spending your precious time learning a skill, building a small business, studying for exams, or serving your community, some of you are spending hours crafting insults. And for what?
A few likes? Retweets? A moment of feeling powerful?
Then comes the knock on your door. The police. The handcuffs. The court appearance. And finally, a prison cell.
While your friends move forward with their lives, you will be stuck—wasting months or even years of your God-given time behind bars. Your destiny will be delayed. Your parents will weep. Your name will be stained.
Is that worth a post?
Beware of Politicians Who Would Use You
As we draw closer to the tripartite elections, the political temperature is rising. The air is thick with tension. And in such times, irresponsible politicians often look for young people to do their dirty work.
They write the insults. They fund the campaigns. They stir the anger. But when the police arrive, where are they? Nowhere to be found.
You will be the one arrested. You will be the one in court. You will be the one missing job opportunities while sitting in a cell. Meanwhile, the very person who encouraged you will deny ever knowing you.
Do not allow yourself to be used as firewood for another person’s political fire. You are more valuable than that.
A Warning to Irresponsible Politicians
I must also speak directly to those in the political realm who recruit young people to insult leaders online. You know who you are.
Using a child to attack the President does not make you strong. It makes you a coward. It makes you a destroyer of destinies.
If you have a political grievance, speak for yourself. Face the law yourself. Do not hide behind the fingers of a teenager typing on a phone. Cease from this wickedness. The blood of wasted young lives will be on your hands.
A Final Plea from a Loving Heart
My young friends, I love this nation. I love you. That is why I am speaking so plainly.
You have so much potential. The energy in your hands, the fire in your heart, the creativity in your mind—these were given to you by God to build a future, not to throw away in a prison yard.
Before you post anything about the President or any elder, pause. Breathe. Pray.
Ask yourself: Is this building my future or burning it?
If you want to criticise, do so intelligently and respectfully. Focus on policies, not personalities. Use proper channels—letters, representations, lawful protests, your Member of Parliament. Social media is not a court, and insults are not arguments.
Let us build a Zambia where young people are known for innovation, not incarceration. Let us be remembered as a generation that honoured leadership, even when we disagreed.
I am praying for you. I believe in you. And I beg you: do not waste your precious life on a post that will land you in prison.
May God bless you, and may God bless the Republic of Zambia.
Written by Rev. Fr. John Emmanuel Kapambwe (Anglican Priest)
—A concerned citizen and a friend to the youth of this great nation.
