Kambwili was Lungu’s chief praise singer
By ANDREW MUKOMA A total of K4million has been disbursed to street vendors throughout Zambia as empowerment funds.
The money was released through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development (MYSCD).
In an interview with the Daily Nation in Livingstone at the weekend, senior youth development officer Musheke Kakuwa said the empowerment funds were in form of loans ranging from K 1, 500 to K 5,000.
Mr. Kakuwa said that the pilot project started from Lusaka and Central Provinces and had now been rolled out to the remaining eight provinces on Copperbelt, North Western, Western, Southern, Eastern, Muchinga, Northern and Luapula provinces.
He said that from the eight provinces, the ministry was targeting to empower about 2, 667 youths between the ages of 18 and 35 years.
“The goal of street vendor empowerment scheme is to enhance income levels for street vendors and ensure that they operate in a safe and healthy environment,
“”Overall the main objective is to provide capacity building to street vendors in terms of training, finance and equipment in order to make their businesses sustainable and profitable for their improved livelihoods,” he said.
Mr. Kakuwa disclosed that the program is being implemented by the three institutions; the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Zambia Postal Services (ZAMPOST) and United Street Vendors Association of Zambia.
He appealed to beneficiaries to pay back the loans which he said the interest which they will be required to pay was only K 70 adding that those who will fail to pay back will be followed by the law.
And United Street Vendors Association of Zambia (USVAZ) has thanked President Edgar Lungu through the ministry for his commitment towards the welfare of street vendors in Zambia.
USVAZ secretary general Mutesha Chabala said that street vendors were an integral part the country’s economic growth.
Mr. Chabala said that since the pilot programme was launched in Lusaka and Central Provinces in 2016, it has proved to be worth something to talk about.
“So far in Central and Lusaka provinces where the pilot programe started, it has proved to be doing well and we are hoping it will be the same elsewhere too. This is a government program to boost street vendors’ business not a campaign program because there are no elections,” he said.
He said that the three partners were in Southern Province to conduct an assessment, register and approve the names of those who qualify for the loans.