Government Launches New Youth Empowerment Scheme
The Ministry of Youth, Sport and Arts has launched a new youth empowerment scheme, targeting some 2,000 young people across the country.
Minister for youth, sport, and arts Elvis Nkandu announced the launch of the empowerment scheme at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola.
Nr Nkandu said 360 young vulnerable people in the Copperbelt Province alone will benefit from the scheme, which represents a four hundred thousand kwacha investment
Mr Nkandu added that its hoped this will provide economic empowerment to the vulnerable youths at household level.
“This National Youth Scheme program is targeting 360 youths accross the Copperbelt Province and over 2,000 youths country wide,” the Minister said.
He further explained that, by investing in youth, the new dawn government expects to see them contributing to the nation’s development for many years to come.
Furthermore, Mr. Nkandu assured the audience that the Ministry has put up strict measures to ensure that the program is implemented effectively with no segregation and does not turn into a political program. In fact, even ex-convicts will be allowed to participate in the scheme
“This program is looking at the less privileged youths as the new dawn administration wants them to establish businesses to sustain themselves and their families.”
“And this is a grant which will be given to the youths for free and they will not pay back. In the 2022 budget we have even increased the sponsorship,” he said.
Mr Nkandu said the UPND administration is aware that youths in rural areas have long been neglected when it comes to public spending, and that President HH wishes to address this imbalance.
“We have also bought 50 more tanker trucks to be distributed in all the 10 provinces of our country that’s why we are urging youths to form cooperatives of about 30 per group,” the Minister said.
He added that the government will continue procuring more tanker trucks so that the oil industry is dominated by the indigenous Zambians.
Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo observed that the program will go a long way to eradicating child poverty in the district.
He proudly revealed that his province is the first to launch the empowerment scheme and has urged youths to use it prudently.
Mr. Matambo praised the new dawn government for their prioritising of youth welfare in the country, and explained it is partly an acknowledgment of the contribution of the youth population towards installing this UPND administration.
Mr Matambo echoed the words of the Minister for Youth, that the scheme will cater for all the youths across the province irrespective of their political affiliations.
And Minister of Transport and Logistics Frank Tayali said the new dawn adminstration has pledged commitment to ensure that Zambians benefit from it’s natural resources.
Mr. Tayali who is also Ndola Central Member of parliament also took the opportunity to urge young people to get the most out of these Government programs, and not misuse what they get from the national youth scheme.