K58,000 given to womens’ clubs

GOVERNMENT has released over K58, 000 to 10 women’s clubs in Kitwe for developmental projects aimed at eradicating poverty in communities.

The clubs drawn from all the five constituencies in Kitwe received the funds for projects such as poultry and agriculture under the Government funded Women Empowerment Programme.

Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga, who presented the cheques to the women clubs at the weekend, said the funds were aimed at eradicating poverty in the community, especially among women.

Mr Kamanga said the Government was committed to eradicating poverty in the country just as it had promised during the election campaigns.

He said Government had concentrated on empowering women because it was through them that the whole community would benefit.

Mr Kamanga urged the women to use the funds for the intended projects and avoid misappropriating the money because it was meant to improve their wellbeing.

“Government has concentrated more on empowering women because it believes that if a woman is empowered, the whole community benefits, so I would therefore urge you to use the funds for the intended purpose,” he said.

Mr Kamanga further appealed to officials from the Community Development department to help train the beneficiaries of the funds in literacy skills so that they would be able to manage the funds properly.

He also appealed to Kitwe District Chamber of Commerce and Trade to help equip the women with basic business skills to enable them venture into viable businesses.

And Kitwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry vice-president Stephen Muzipo commended the Government for decentralising the Women Empowerment Programme.

Mr Muzipo, who is Kitwe District Women Empowerment programme Committee chairperson, said the committee would ensure that the funds were used for the intended projects.

He encouraged women to develop business initiatives that would improve their livelihood and empower them financially.

Times of Zambia