SCOUTS MARCH INTO STADIUM; SCHOOLGIRLS MARCHING; ARMED FORCES MARCH PAST; KAUNDA ON ROSTRUM; PRINCE DLAMINI AND VIPs APPLAUD; KAUNDA'S ADDRESS.




Initials AH/VS/AS/PF



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Background: ON THE DAY THAT HE ANNOUNCED THE NATIONALISATION OF ZAMBIA'S VITAL COPPER INDUSTRY, PRESIDENT KENNETH KAUNDA TOOK THE SALUTE AT THE YOUTH DAY PARADE IN LUSAKA'S INDEPENDENCE STADIUM. THE PRESIDENT WAS JOINED AT MONDAY'S MASSED MARCH-PAST BY PRINCE MAKHOSINI DLAMINI, PRIME MINISTER OF SWAZILAND.

THE YOUTH DAY CELEBRATIONS COINCIDED WITH A NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING OF ZAMBIA'S UNITED NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE PARTY -- A MEETING CUT SHORT BY PRESIDENT KAUNDA'S ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE NATIONALISATION OF THE COPPER INDUSTRY.

AND AT THE YOUTH PARADE, DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF VIPs PRINCE DLAMINI, VICE-PRESIDENT RASHINI MEAUME KAWAWA OF TANSANIA, AND PRESIDENT KAUNDA HIMSELF, THE PLANNED PROGRAMME OF DISPLAYS AND SPEECHES WAS SIMILARLY CUT SHORT.

MEMBERS OF ZAMBIA'S YOUTH SERVICE WERE JOINED BY BOY SCOUT AND GIRL GUIDES FROM SCHOOLS IN LUSAKA AT THE PARADE IN INDEPENDENCE STADIUM.

THE YOUTH SERVICE, RECENTLY CRITICISED FOR ITS PART IN LAST MONTH'S LUSAKA HIGH COURT RIOT, HAD ORIGINALLY PLANNED TO CELEBRATE YOUTH DAY ON A NATIONAL BASES. BUT THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE SERVICE, MR. MATTHEW NWALE, STATED THAT PLANS HAD TO BE CURTAILED BECAUSE THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE ADEQUATE PREPARATIONS.