PRESIDENT Banda has directed the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to make resources available for the construction of youth resource centres countrywide.
The President has further directed the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) to work closely with the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development to establish youth business incubators alongside the Multi-facility Economic Zones (MFEZ).
He said this will be a sure way of nurturing young people’s businesses.
Mr Banda issued these directives in Lusaka yesterday during celebrations to mark Youth Day.
This year’s theme is ‘Stronger Partnership for Sustainable National Development’.
“Zambia needs to build at least five youth resource centres annually for us to be able to adequately cater for the over 300,000 youth that leave the school system at grades seven, nine and 12 levels,” President Banda said.
He also appealed to corporate institutions countrywide to fulfil their corporate social responsibility by supporting government in the construction of youth skills development centres.
President Banda said government is encouraging the promotion of entrepreneurship and self-employment among the youth graduating from universities, colleges and youth resource centres.
He said young people need access to credit to set themselves up in business.
Mr Banda said currently, most micro-financing initiatives in the country have difficult conditions, making it almost impossible for young people to access finance for investment.
He said government has this year released K5 billion to the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development for promoting youth enterprise development.
Mr Banda said it is envisaged that the youth will be able to access less costly finance for investment, which will enable them to contribute positively to wealth and employment creation.
“I, therefore, challenge all the youth countrywide to come up with viable business proposals so that they can access this money and create their own business,” he said.
Mr Banda directed the Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development to prudently manage the fund and ensure that the problems that affect constituency youth development funds are not replicated.
He said government is determined to make the youth a force behind Zambia’s economic and social development.
Mr Banda said government has come up with a number of innovative programmes that are intended to transform youths into responsible and productive citizens.
He said government will scale up skills training, especially for the disadvantaged youth, in order to create opportunities for them to access and harness their own skills to improve their livelihood.
President Banda said government views young people as an important resource for the development of the country.
He said the challenge is to create more opportunities for youth to harness their own skills and resources to improve their quality of life.
Mr Banda said government is determined to provide more resources and create opportunities for youth through high and sustained economic growth.
He said despite the global crisis, Zambia has done well in managing the economy.
“Last year, we achieved an estimated growth rate of 6.3 percent, one of the highest, in the history of this country.”
President Banda said his government is determined to consolidate on the gains of last year.
“This year, we expect even stronger growth in the economy than in 2009. All international financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have praised the remarkable resilience of our economy. This is something that we must all be proud of,” he said.
He said government will this year focus more on infrastructure development, especially in improving schools, health facilities and roads.
Mr Banda said this will not result in immediate or increased material consumption, but will be critical in laying a strong foundation for the development of human and physical capital in the country.
“This year’s theme challenges all of us to ensure that the youth are actively involved in the development process. Zambia cannot achieve and sustain meaningful socio-economic development without the active participation of young people who are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
President Banda said occasions like youth day celebrations should not just be seen as a formality but a crucial event that calls for strong partnership among all key stakeholders in the development of the youth.
He commended co-operating partners and private institutions for partnering with government in supporting youth programmes.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
There you go you Africans! He has to do is just direct. The most powerful man in Zambia. Can only talk-magic.
Reduce the powers of the president you Africans.
Our President has a challege, if only we Zambians devoted more time to work than politics this our country would have been a paradise. The problem with laziness is that you become consumption oriented hence the sitting or sleeping allowance syndrome, unless we cut on wasteful or should I cal it outright theft through created sitting/sleeping allowances nothing will work in this country.
The article title “RB directs MOF to release funds for youth facilities countrywide” makes for sad reading.
I am challenging RB, If the money was allocated for youth’s benefit and has all this time not been “RELEASED”. let him fire those responsible at the MOF for incomptence.
However, if there was nothing allocated to the youth affairs, despite it being one of the most critical areas of our society, then RB is playing cheap politics. He must keep his mouth shut!! Else let ALL of them (with RB himself) be fired.
He thinks we Zedians are st.upid. We can c thru him. Wants to appear like its the MOF that is hindering progress and he as a perrformer. Thinks he can gain political mileage. Where was he and his greedy Mwadya Mweka Daddies? Now it is coz the voting year is nigh?…
Can any one tell me what the 2010 budget is for Zambia? How much did each Ministry get to run its resort? I hope you are not eyeing the borrowed money, now,mr President! If youths were not budgeted for, then use funds in the Presidential miscellaneous accounts if you really want to help the youth.
Propserous, you took the words right out of my mouth. RB has got into the habit of touring the country and promising all and sundry, these promises are usually accompanied by instructions to various Ministers (normally Finance) to ‘find’ money to pay.
Come on! Are we serious. What about the various budgets that were submitted and agreed? This could be the reason why we have been to China to ask for a loan. The gaps in various budgets might have neccessitated it.
I am yet to see MOF say NO Mr President, we don’t have money and we can not get another loan. Let’s just limit our expenses by cutting down on unneccessary Internatioanl trips. You can use Video conference mr President. you don’t have to go anywhere now unless you just want to tour some country out of personal interest.
# 1 …, I agree , …making directives as we go along. No apparent planning , just responding to the demands of the occassion . What a useless speech.