3,000 Ndola youths to get skills training
OVER 3, 000 youths will be empowered with skills training in Kakolo ward in Ndola, a councillor, Joseph Nyirenda has said.
Mr Nyirenda said the training would be in agriculture poultry, piggery, crops, bee-keeping, farm management and feed formulation.
Other skills on offer were carpentry, block making, welding, driving, cookery, tailoring and knitting, basic computer lessons and farm accounts among many others.
Mr Nyirenda said that the programme aimed at providing entrepreneurial skills to the youths as a means to empower them.
He noted that many youths were unemployed and required skills to make them self-sustaining.
He said the programme would commerce in the next two months and would be sponsored by the Ndola City Council.
Mr Nyirenda said training would be facilitated through the Copperbelt School of Agriculture where he served as a director.
"The course duration will be three to six months and certificates will be given to youths as well as land through resettlement," he said.
He added that priority would be given to the residents of Kaloko Ward in Kabushi and then to the rest of the residents in Ndola.
Mr. Nyirenda said skills development was very important for economic growth in country as it boosted entrepreneurial skills which promoted innovation and self development.
Mr Chikwa said marketeers who trade from Chisokone market come from all the five constituencies and so it was important that the five MPs come together with a uniform and sustainable initiative to support struggling trader.
He said this in an interview in Kitwe yesterday. He said a number of marketeers, especially those who sell vegetables and other perishables, were struggling to survive because it was a ' hand to mouth situation.'
"Yes, Chisokone market is in Nkana constituency, but the marketers who trade at this market come from all the five constituencies in Kitwe, hence we think the five MPs should develop an initiative to help the vulnerable marketeers.
A number of marketeers, especially those who sell vegetables and other perishables, were struggling to survive because it was a “hand to mouth situation”.
Kitwe has five MPs - Joe Malanji of Kwacha constituency, Pavyuma Kalobo of Wusakile Constituency, Alexander Chiteme in Nkana, Mwila Mutale of Chimwemwe and Elario Musonda of Kamfinsa constituency
And some marketeers said the proposal by Mr Chikwa was good but that there was need to ensure that the initiative benefitted the intended traders. Ms Judith Chilubula, who sells vegetables, said many were the times that initiatives aimed at benefitting the vulnerable had been hijacked and abused to the benefit of those who were already comfortable.
“We cannot blame government or any other institution, but ourselves and people who are put in charge to execute the initiatives. You find initiatives which are aimed at benefitting the vulnerable do not benefit the intended people,” she said.
The councillor said skills development was very important for economic growth in country as it boosted entrepreneurial skills which promoted innovation and self development.