Nchelenge youths tipped on how to eradicate poverty

–Government has called on youths in Nchelenge District to work hard so that they can drive themselves out of poverty.

Nchelenge District Commissioner (DC), Royd Chakaba, says government has put in place policies and programmes aimed at empowering youths, especially in rural areas, to be self reliant.

Mr Chakaba said this yesterday when he appeared on a Nchelenge based community radio station, Radio Luapula, which was monitored by ZANIS.

The DC said there is need for youths in the area to organise themselves by coming together to form and register groups so that they can access the Youth Empowerment Funds (YEF)  from government.

He said Luapula Province has over KR400,000 lying idle at the bank for youth empowerment because of lack of interest among youths in the area.

Mr Chakaba implored youths in Nchelenge to be pro-active and come up with sound project proposals so that they can access the loans.

The DC said funds were available in form of a loans which could be up to K50,000  per group or a grant which can be up to K30,000 per group.

He said youths should take advantage of the facility to drag themselves out of poverty by engaging in business ventures that would make them self employed.

The DC said youths should change their mindset from entirely depending on government and other organisations to provide them with employment but instead they should consider self employment as an alternative source of livelihood.

And Mr Chakaba yesterday held a meeting with youth from Nchelenge District where he explained the modalities of application of the Youth Empowerment Fund.

He explained that there is need for all the youth groups which will access loans to pay to enable other groups access the same facility.

Nchelenge has a lot of opportunities in agriculture, livestock rearing, fish farming and tourism.