Women, youths urged to form clubs

WOMEN and youths in Livingstone have been encouraged to form clubs and cooperatives in order for them to access empowerment funds. Livingstone Constituency Patriotic Front (PF) Chairlady, Alice Mwela, said women and youth should join clubs and cooperatives so that Government was able to easily empower them in a structured manner. Ms Mwela said that this was one of the organised way in which people coulf benefit from the Government’s empowerment programmes. She said that last year, the party’s empowerment committee in Livingstone managed to empower more than 250 women who were involved in different categories of businesses. Ms Mwela said that the money which was used to empower the women was raised through a fundraising dinner which was graced by Gender Minister Elizabeth Phiri. The Chairlady said the initial plans of the committee was to make it a revolving fund but unfortunately, due to the Covid-19, it had been difficult for some of the beneficiaries to pay back. However, Ms Mwela said that the committee would continue encouraging women to form clubs so that more support could be sourced. She was speaking during a party mobilisation meeting in Dambwa Site and Service. Ms Mwela said it was purely the ruling party’s initiative and targeted everyone regardless of their political affiliation. At the same meeting, committee member, Ikuka Muleta, called on youths to raise up and stop waiting for handouts. Mr Muleta who is PF Livingstone parliamentary aspiring candidate said the PF Government had created a conducive environment for young people to venture into a number of empowerment projects. He said that the party in Livingstone was always ready to help those interested. He said called on youths to start forming clubs and cooperatives of 10 members in each for easy access of the funds.