-CEEC throws empowerment challenge to citizens

CEEC throws empowerment challenge to citizens

Kasama, March, 15,2013, ZANIS—Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) director general Likando Mukumbuta has implored the residents of Kasama to take advantage of the empowerment funds provided by the commission for entrepreneurship ventures.

Mr. Mukumbuta said time was ripe for Zambians to make serious decisions in ensuring that they steer economic development by coming up with meaningful ideas that can be funded by the CEEC.

Mr Mukumbuta posed the challenged to the Kasama community during a sensitization meeting held in the northern provincial capital yesterday.

Mr. Mukumbuta noted that CEEC is ready to be part of the people who have the zeal of driving the nation forward through industrial development that will in turn reduce poverty levels among the citizens.

He explained that CEEC funds are meant to empower people with progressive ideas and is a revolving fund that needs to be paid back.

Mr. Mukumbuta revealed that CEEC will disburse 90 percent of the funds to applicants in rural areas while those on the line of rail will only get 10 percent in order to encourage rural development.

The director general said the empowerment funds would also cover 40 percent of youths who make up the largest scope of the Zambian population while 30 per cent will go to women entrepreneurs.

Mr. Mukumbuta said 20 per cent of the funds will be directed at disabled people in society and emphasized that only successful applicants will access the money.

Meanwhile, Kasama district commissioner Kalanga Bwalya appealed to over the 100 business men and women who attended the meeting to take the opportunity and access the national cake.

Mr. Bwalya told the director general of the CEEC that people failed to meet guidelines in the past due to procedural complications contained in the application forms.