My children will not work for anyone, jobs must be for those who need them – Hichilema
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has encouraged graduands to take up entrepreneurship, revealing that he told his three biological children not to work for anyone as the trio needs to work hard for themselves in order to employ those in need.
Addressing Mulungushi University students in Kapiri Mposhi yesterday during it’s 16th graduation ceremony, President Hichilema stated this to encourage the student populace to take up the entrepreneurial space after school.
“If I was to start like you, I would start working for myself immediately after graduating and that’s what I have told my three biological children. They will not work for anybody, they must leave the job for someone else who needs it, they just scratch for themselves, employ themselves, and employ somebody along the way.”
“I want to encourage somebody to be entrepreneurial. You better work hard my friends,” said President Hichilema.
He further shared that having started working for himself at the age of 27, some years back has proven to be of great benefit.
“I started working for myself at an early age, I was 27 years old and since then I don’t know what someone’s payslip looks like,” he said.
“Without education, I would have never been your president. The doors have been opened for greater success because of education.”
He added that he believes education is the best equaliser as it doesn’t choose where one comes from, referring to how he came from a poor background and became one of the most successful Zambians.
“One critical thing made me see education in a different way. A child from the village like me and a child from mayadi like some of you and an orphan, once you get through an education, all the differences that you came with, are leveled, are equalised.”
“A child whose parents were well off and the parents die, you will find that five years later, that child may not have anything to his name. That’s why education is the best inheritance, equaliser and investment. If a child enters this university because [of being] a child or a niece of HH and they think they will graduate because of that affiliation, wailasha,” said the Head of State.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, November 2, 2024