Government has disbursed over K234,000 youth empowerment funds to 26 cooperatives in Zambezi district through Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development multi-sectoral approach.
Speaking when handing over the cheques today, Zambezi District Commissioner, Charton Samahanda said the PF government has identified cooperatives to be one of the tools used in eradicating poverty, thereby, empowering the youths.
Mr Samahanda explained that government attaches great importance to youths as they are part and parcel of the country’s development who have potential to significantly contribute to economic development.
‘I am sure you can see for yourself that the Patriotic Front government is committed to ensuring that young people like you are empowered in this country,” he said.
Mr Samahanda has since appealed to cooperatives to put the money to good use, such as agriculture, to enable them and their cooperatives to create jobs for others which in turn will contribute to social growth and social development.
“This is an empowerment loan and you are expected to pay back so that your friends can benefit too and I will be going round to see what you are doing as a corporative,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zambezi Youth, Sport and Child Development Center Coordinator, Kelvin Katulwende said the ministry has done its part by ensuring that youths in Zambezi have access to the youth development fund under multi-sectoral approach.
Mr Katulwende has since urged the youths empowered to understand why they have been empowered, saying once they understand, it will help them create jobs and expand their business as cooperatives.
“Lack of understanding from youths is the reason why the empowerment fund has not performed well in some places but I urge you to do the correct things,” he said.
And speaking on behalf of other cooperatives, Maseka Kapalu commended government for the gesture, saying it will result in the job creation and help to alleviate household poverty.
Mr. Kapalu has since urged fellow cooperatives to take heed of the advice from the district commissioner and ensure that money is channeled to proper investment which will yield positive results.
“We are grateful for the gesture Mr Commissioner, and we can assure you we will use the money given to us wisely,” he said.
Mize Kweska womens clubs, Kakoto youth group, Kayenda youth club, Khizenzi agricultural cooperative and Lisolyalia enterprise are among the cooperatives that have been empowered.
Pilato was right when he said a few years ago on a phone-in programme that its not this PF govt’s intension to uplift you in poverty they want you to remain poor so that they come before General elections and hand out your own money to you to dupe you. We saw this years ago with then Minister of Sport BUFFOON CK dishing out funds to everyone without shame. They are dispersing free taxpayers money to co-operatives and there is nowhere intension of them paying back.
Good initiative however a lot of thought should have been put into it. The yufi need skills to be able to put these funds to full use. How about bringing back those trades schools? Do not give them fish, teach them how to fish.
Very good that is how it should Zambians must benefit from that empowerment fund, get money and start your own business and participate in politics.
Politics shouldn’t be only to help a few individuals and the rest remain poor.
Handouts cannot alleviate poverty mwebantu. Where has this money come from out of a sudden? There are now donations throughout the whole country. I think we need to scrutinize some of these things than remain hoodwinked.
This empowerment is usless and meant to hoodwink Zambians who are desperate. PF needs to go this year.
WE SHOULD HAVE ELECTIONS EVERY YEAR !!!!!!!!!!!!
THIS ENPOMERMENT ONLY COMES FOR 6 MONTHS EVERY 5 YEARS
SO FOR IT TO BE MEANINGFUL LETS START A YEARLY CAMPAIGN
@1 YOUTH AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT HAS BEEN GOING ON EVER SINCE PF CAME INTO GOVERNMENT. MAYBE TALK ABOUT A BIT OF MISAPPROPRIATION OF FUNDS- THAT WILL MAKE A BIT OF SENSE. BUT OF COURSE EVEN THE RECIPIENTS OF THESE FUNDS MISAPPROPRIATE IT. HOWEVER, IN UPND STRONGHOLDS FUNDS SUCH AS CONSTITUENCE DEVELOPMENT FUNDS END UP IN UPND COFFER-MEANING THEY DON’T USE THE FUNDS FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSES. IF YOU ARE A UPND CADRE MAYBE THAT’S WHY YOU DON’T KNOW. OR YOU ARE JUST ONE OF THOSE LOPSIDED PEOPLE OR HAVE NEVER EVEN BEEN TO ZAMBIA SINCE YOU LEFT APART FROM BEING A WORSHIPER OF YOUR LITTLE GOD.
Another Day, Another Handout disguised as ‘Empowerment’..
As has been said countless times on this blog, Skills and Knowledge are the best way to empower the youths.
All these empowerments shall vanish after 12 August.
SOMEONE SHOULD TAKE THEIR BLIND FOLD OFF AND SEE THE POVERTY
A LOT OF US WILL BE BACK TO MAKE A BETTER ZAMBIA VERY SOON… BEING AWAY DOESNT BY ANY MEANS MAKE US UN ZAMBIAN
OUR SKILLS ARE MORE APPRECIATED ESLEWHERE
£300 per co-operative is empowerment? K9,000 per co-operative is empowerment? Fake designer goods will be bought for now.
Wow. so each cooperative will receive K9000 only?
You mean this amount will allevaite [poverty? Kwema ba pf you are jockers.
All this money you are dishing out, why don’t yoi fisrt pay the retirees and council workers who havent been payed their monthly salaries for months?
The problem with some youths is that they don’t want to work hard or grab the opportunities which are available in the market. They just cry and blame the government for their employment issue.
There are several schemes initiated by President Lungu but some fools want spoon-feeding.
We must thank President Lungu for providing a needed platform to the youths of this country. Forever we will remain grateful to him.
Many young people are feeding their families, proudly!!! President Lungu is committed to uplift the lives of millions of Zambians.
This is great news. Hope the 26 cooperatives invest the funds in the right business and make a huge profit out of it.
More power to the young generation of Zambia. They are really lucky for having a great visionary leader President Lungu who is always ready to help Zambians.
Several youths have turned to the agriculture sector as a great career option due to its rising potential in the international market.
President Lungu’s government continuously providing several job opportunities to Zambians!!! We are not away from the day when we will see a 100% literacy rate in the country.
The Youth empowerment fund helped a lot to those youths who were talented but didn’t able to grow because of lack of money.
Zambia would witness more youth participation in the upcoming August elections! More power to youths!! More power to PF!!!