Govt. to disburse K 20 billion on empowering youths

Govt. to disburse K 20 billion on empowering youths

Kitwe, February 5^th, 2014, ZANIS — GOVERNMENT says it will this year disburse K20 billion for youth empowerment.

Youth and Sports Minister Chishimba Kambwili disclosed this when he paid a courtesy call on Kitwe District Commissioner, in Kitwe, today.

Mr. Kambwili said last year K23 billion was disbursed and 700 youth groups have so far benefited from these funds.

He  added that over 1000 jobs have so far been created as a result of the disbursed youth empowerment funds in the past 2 years that the Patriotic Front Government have been in power.

And Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga appealed on government to increase the allocation youth empowerment programme.

Mr. Kamanga said his office was receiving overwhelming response from youths applying for the funds which they have appreciated a lot.

Meanwhile Mr. Kambwili has warned that youths who will not pay back for these funds will be prosecuted and jailed as their case will be considered as fraud or obtaining funds by false pretence.

He said it was important that those youths that have benefited start paying back so that more others can also benefit.

Mr. Kambwili who is on the Copperbelt to explain government programmes on youth empowerment and job creation said there had been a lot of propaganda by the opposition suggesting that the PF has not done anything to address youth unemployment in the past two years it has been in power.

He said this propaganda can lead to instability in the country if it is allowed to continue.

Mr. Kambwili was supposed to meet youths in Kitwe and explain to them about the youth empowerment funds and other programmes that government has put up to address youth unemployment in the country.

He however did not hold the meeting due to some logistics that were not in place and has since postponed the meeting to another date to be announced.