ZAFFICCO empowers youths with wood processing machinery

YOUTH-OWNED enterprises will receive 4, 800 cubes of logs from ZAFFICO to enable them produce desks at a competitive price, Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development, Emmanuel Mulenga has said.

And the inister said youths will also be empowered with wood processing machinery to produce timber.

Briefing journalists in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Mulenga said Government had entered into an agreement with ZAFFICO to allow youths acquire timber at an affordable price.

He said the market for desks has already been created as his ministry has entered into an agreement with the Ministry of General Education as the major clients. “Youths have been failing to produce desks at a competitive price because the cost of timber has accelerated. So we have agreed with ZAFFICO to give us certain cubes of logs. At the moment they have given us 4, 800 cubes which we will give to the youth which they will harvest.”

“Another set of youths will be empowered with wood grinders to process the logs into timber while the other set will produce desks,” he said.

He said Government would ensure all youths accessing funds are equipped with financial skills.

Meanwhile, Mr Mulenga announced that President Edgar Lungu is tomorrow expected to launch an empowerment scheme to cater for youths across all sectors.

Mr Mulenga explained that the money which is already sitting with his ministry is meant to cater for youths who are not artists and cannot benefit from the K30 million launched earlier.