Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Southern Province youths shun empowerment fund

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The Ministry of youth and Sports in Livingstone has expressed worry over the slow response by youths to access the youth empowerment funds to enable them engage in gainful enterprises.

Speaking in an interview with ZANIS yesterday , Southern Province Youth Coordinator Vincent Sitali said it was worrying that so far only 25 applications have been received from Livingstone district despite the massive sensitisation programme carried out by the department.

Mr. Sitali said seven applications received were for grants while 18 were for loans under the youth fund.

He said although some applications have not yet been received from the Other districts, there were indications that the response from the youths has not been impressive.

“As a department we worried at the rather poor response from youths to apply for these funds and we hope that with the help of some districts volunteer committees that we formed to continue sensitisations we hope to see an increase in the number of application forms submitted,” said Mr. Sitali.

“In my own opinion I would be happy if we can have least 150 applications approved for the entire province”.

He said the department had planned to conduct the first evaluation exercise of the application forms on 20 February to facilitate release of funds to approved projects this month but could not do so because of the poor response.

“We were supposed to have the first evaluation of the forms on 20th February but we are still waiting to have at least 30 forms to begin the evaluation process”, said Mr. Sitali.

Government this year allocated K1.3 Billion (KR1.3 Million) under the youths empowerment fund for southern province for youths to engage in projects including tourism, agro processing, primary agriculture, arts among many others.

He further explained that the department would like to utilize all the money allocated unlike last year when the province only used about K500 Million to approved youths projects out of the total allocation of K1.1 Billion.

He encouraged the youths to apply for the funds to enable them benefit from the United Nations World Tourism Oranisation General Assembly (UNWTO) to be co-hosted between Zambia and Zimbabwe in August this year.

ZANIS

16 COMMENTS

  1. some times its useless to do something when you well wont work, sata said tongas wont be helped coz they rejected uegen munyama so they feel even if they aply they wont be helped.

  2. Because pf government its a government only for its cadres, if you are not a pf cadre forget benefiting from this cadre’s government.

  3. it should be an on going process, why should those who applied be waiting for lazy chaps. time is money.

  4. Twaya only a person with small will think like that. She is decent, smart and above all educated. Your flag shows USA possibly it you the Republican Party wanted to be deported before the ended elections . Thanks Obama and democrat party for speaking on your behalf that despite not having the rights to stay in USA, have stayed longer

  5. Are my tribe’s men this dull? Just r@nting and not taking advantage of such funds! anyway m going back home to get a share. CHOMA HERE I COME!!!!!

  6. What about those of us in Lusaka, how come we don’t see this sensitization? Why isn’t the electronic media used to promote such? who is in charge of this fund and…wait let me research

    • There is nothing I can find online about this YDF, so I guess they are concentrating on people who don’t use the internet. What a 4ntine boma we have.

  7. Mr Sitali that is correct but try to iron out the discouraging factors such as the perception of corruption/ selectivenes and beaurocracy.

  8. well sed oscar,, it is an ongoing process,,let you the ministry of youth and sports deal with wat yu have first,,time waits for no man,,as a result of lvingstone youths, we dont even know when the first assesment will be done,,

  9. You Bloggers seem not to understand the economy of SP. The so called youths have rich parents and relatives where they can borrow money to start business and not those loans from the PF youth fund with high interest. Ask anybody about a loan in SP they will tell you that they would rather get funds from relatives with cattle than to lose property due to defaulting. They are still fresh with memories of Lima Bank and AFC if you are old enough to remember. Farmers lost Tractors, cattle, farms etc due to loans. So let these other provinces get the loans. Just go and inspect the names of the applicants. You will agree with me.

  10. Comment:
    How do I apply for this youth fund, please help me I need it seriously. I need to stand on my own and use my ideas on reality. Your help will be highly appreciated, thank you

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