Minister of Youth, Sport and Arts, Elvis Nkandu, says his government is concluding the implementation process of the youth internship programme.
Under this programme, youths with various professions will be attached to work in different government ministries and institutions as a way of empowering them.
Mr Nkandu told the media that the process had to be paused at some point to allow for the completion of the recruitment process for defense service personnel to avoid a situation where some youths are picked for both.
He said government has also engaged some corporate organisations that have also agreed to take up some interns.
He explained that the coming on board of corporate entities will increase the number of interns that can be taken up from the initial 2,000.
And Mr Nkandu has disclosed that government will unlock jobs for youths in the mining sector in the Copperbelt Province, particularly at Mopani and KCM mines once the two companies begin operating at full capacity.
He said the youths will be empowered with resources so that they can also participate in the supply business.
Meanwhile,Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts Permanent Secretary, Kangwa Chileshe, says government remains committed to supporting all major sports disciplines in the country.
Mr Chileshe said any sports federation that requires funding or support from government is required to write a letter to the National Sports Council which subsequently submits to the ministry.
He was reacting to the failure by the national boxing women’s team to participate at the International Boxing Association world Elite Women’s boxing championship, which started today, 14th March and will end on 26th March 2023.
The national boxing women’s team failed to participate because it failed to raise funds.
Last week, the National Paralympics team also missed the world Para Athletics Grand Prix which took place in Marrakesh, Morocco due to the same reason.
Mr Chileshe was speaking in a telephone interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He said that the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts did not receive any letter of request to support the women’s national boxing team and the national paralympics team.
“When we have an entire arrangement, we meet, discuss and agree, then we can sponsor. So if they come through and discuss how we can assist in terms of tickets and any help, we will do,” he explained.
Mr Chileshe said he was only aware of the Zambia youths with intellectual disabilities taking part in a tournament to be held in Berlin, Germany.
He said the youth group reached out to the ministry for support and has since been assisted with air tickets to travel for the competition.
And Mr Chileshe has said government, through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts, will soon begin rehabilitating the Heroes Stadium and Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) in preparation for hosting the All African Athletes Amateur games to be held in Zambia this year.
