President Edgar Lungu has said that the PF government attaches great importance to the role that Artists play in the economic development of the country.
Speaking during the launch of the Youth Empowerment Scheme Targeting Artists and the Presidential Choral and Arts Festival at Government Complex in Lusaka today, President Lungu said since the creation of the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, his government has demonstrated that artists are Key players in national development.
In a speech read on his behalf by Vice president Inonge Wina, President Lungu stated that he has noted with happiness that the country’s arts sector has been registering tremendous growth, which has attracted both local and foreign attention.
He further said that the PF government has further noted with happiness an increase in local content on television as well as an increase in attendance to Zambian concerts, festivals fairs, and exhibitions.
“All this is as a result of the enabling environment that my government, in collaboration with stakeholders has put in place,” President Lungu said.
And the head of state has stated that the two signature programs that his government has launched today will bring the country together and empower artists.
President Lungu also announced that government plans to indirectly reach at least 15, 000 artists across the country from the 10, 000 artists that the National Arts Council of Zambia is targeting to reach through the festival.
He explained that the Youth Empowerment Scheme Targeting Arts and the Presidential Choral and Arts Festival are the two interventions that have been structured to provide relief to a sector that has been negatively impacted by COVID 19.
President Lungu has since urged the National Arts Council to take a consultative approach and ensure that the scheme benefits as many artists as possible.
He has also urged artists that will access the funds to be accountable the funds and use them for the intended purpose.
“You have been asking for such an intervention from your government, this is not the time to be merry but to do the work that needs to be done,” President Lungu said.
And Speaking earlier, Tourism and Arts Minister Ronald Chitotela said the two programmes that have been launched are in response to the challenges that artists have been facing particularly in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic.
Mr Chitotela explained that performing artists have lost income opportunities , jobs and have struggled to earn a living as they can no longer host shows while craft artists cannot sell their work due to the reduced number of tourists.
He further stated that the approval of the K30 million Youth Empowerment Scheme targeting artists and the Presidential Choral and Arts festival was not a random act by the head of state but a strategic decision which was made in the winder context of the Seventh National development Plan to diversify the economy and expand job opportunities for youths.
We pray that the youth will take this initiative seriously and take advantage of this opportunity by being responsible. I was once a youth myself and i know the mindset of most of you. I had over 10 girlfriends at one point and was spending my income on useless things. I thought I was the tough guy breaking girls’ hearts. It was at that point i met a woman i loved so much from ukraine. She as so beautiful and i loved her. But due to being an irresponsible youth I thought I was the man and cheated on her.I lost her and cried like a little boy. Even to date, I think what may have been. Luckily we get second chances in life, and i was blessed to meet my one and truly lovely wlfe regina who has made me a better man and father. I am now responsible and learned from that lesson not to waste…
… money on useless things or people. Be clever ba youth. Dont be like chellah who is bought by the biggest bidder
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Bandit PF Lungu never give power to the speaker! How much is mealie meal? Has load shedding finished?how is the economy doing? 1 year to the next elections. PF Bandits time is up … Useless Bandits
Look at the silly UK based impostor…some people have no shame at all, some sicknesses are not reversible
Who starts a new project during a crisis? Wht project planning and management is this?
Tarino I know you can’t relate due to your homosexuality
Lazy Lungu has had 5 years in office, they already discontinued youth fund that was in existence now he sees youth protesting his dull advisers just tell him to bribe them using the unaudited corrupt Presidential Fund. How can a president be given a large pot of money just there for bribing people …we saw this with RB in his last days.
Tarino no matter how much you insult the president your fellow tribesmen will not win next year. In fact you cannot even vote so you are wasting your time. You will die of depression while I serve my country
Tarino no matter how much you insult the president your fellow tribesmen will not win next year. In fact you cannot even vote so you are wasting your time. You will die of depression while I serve my country . Kz
Money from tenderpreneurs has started coming out. There will be more in 2021.
Watching with keen interest.
BFlow should be CEO for that fund.
Congratulations BFlow, Pilato, and team.
Lusambo has lost….
We saw this with corrupt Chiluba. Only that it had a different name that time. It was called the Presidential Slash Fund. These Presidential Funds are conduits for unbridled corruption! Any wonder where the President’s Daughter got the millions to fence off 4,000 Hectares? Imagine fencing off 4000 Football Grounds each measuring 100 meters by 100 meters and joined together! That’s not a trivial pursuit. That is Art also. After all the president’s daughter is also a youth. The timing of the fund is what should worry us. It’s a desperately wicked attempt to buy off the gullible! It should have been called Presidential Bribery fund! No wonder our Debt to GDP ratio has skyrocketed to 132.4% because of unplanned expenditure! Instead of empowering Youths in Agriculture like KK did, we are…
Makaka pompwe Dunderhead Kaizar Zulu get a iwe chimbwi…..24/7 on Lusaka Times…nansoni ulibe iwe kapoli galuuu yopanda muchila
So Tukuta has made ECL shake. What the youths want are the gold mines finish. Not that change you are offering them. They will get that change but still shock you next year. Mukose.
@Anonymous, its not the real KAIZER ZULU, but I am told this guy who lives in a council flat in UK getting benefits has the blessings of the real KAIZER.
Hahaha my haters don’t want me to be me because they know the threat come 2021. This is KZ and if you remain in denial, come 2021 you will cry again.
This money is going to cadres. We the masses are not worried because we know what we need to do in 2021.