Alcohol Abuse in Lusaka - Youths

"The future belongs to those who prepare for it today" Said Malcolm X. He was right.
If you live in Lusaka or have in the recent past been in Lusaka's townships like Kabwata, Matero, Kanyama, Mtendere, Kaunda Square, you would bear witness to the alarming levels of Alcohol Abuse in Lusaka. Alcoholism has become the order of the day among the youth and teenagers across the city. It has become a way of life for the majority unemployed. They start drinking even as early as before sunrise. No kidding.
As usual, I took time to interview a few as to establish what their motivation is. I was not received well by most of these visibly disgruntled once normal family members. Others told me that I would never understand how hard their lives were. I wish they had taken time to hear my life. They would probably realise my upbringing was way worse than most of theirs. There was one common answer that I got. Lack of employment. I found this excuse rather interesting and made me ask if they were having these Tujilijili (liquor in sachets). Apparently, the truth is they bought it. This was a matter of concern for me really. If you can buy, then you have the money and if you have the money, then you have a source. It was this source that I needed to know of. But I couldn't figure it out. I remained guessing; maybe they pick pocket people. Maybe they do odd jobs. Whatever the source, would it not be wise to not spend it on alcohol?
Enough of the consumption part. Maybe I'm judgemental because I don't understand what it means or feels to be them. Where is the government in all this really? Does the government not care for it's youth? These tujilijili are being sold at every single bus stop across Lusaka. Are the authorities not aware? Or they are aware except they have a profit motive? What happened the law that prohibits alcohol consumption in public? Bus drivers drink them while driving and bus conductors alike. Is it too hard for the local authorities to take measures? Really, where do politicians live where they are hidden from the realities of the day? Which roads do they drive in that they don't see people selling these spirits at all traffic light? Are they too excited with their security escorts that they legally run red lights and don't see what happens? Or are the people responsible live and work at Civic Centre that they don't go out?
What really can be done to combat this problem? What are the practical solutions to this problem? Prohibit the packaging of liquor in small affordable sachets that only cost K500 ($0.10 or 10 cents)? Are taxes on liquor too low or is liquor simply Tax free of Zero rated (0%) in Zambia? Why really is this nonsense only happening in Zambia? Why? Should we sue the local authority as responsible citizens for failing to live up their mandate?

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