EMPOWERING YOUTHS

YOUNG people in Zambia are said to be marginalised in terms of job creation. However it is good that President Edgar Lungu’s Government is keen to ensure that young people are empowered through various schemes. As young people commemorated Youth Day which falls on March 12 annually, it is important for stakeholders tasked to deal with youth empowerment to ensure that they are in tandem with President Lungu’s vision. So it should not take PF Secretary- General Davies Mwila to remind the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) to remove restrictions on disbursement of funds to allow young people to access it so that they become entrepreneurs. The CEEC should know that young people are versatile when it comes to business incentives and are capable of becoming successful entrepreneurs. Young people as Mr Mwila says, are innovative and have the capacity to contribute to sustainable national development once empowered. It is regrettable that CEEC has put in place seemingly rigid conditions that severely restrict the youth in accessing financial support and other related services to help them start or boost their businesses. We agree with Mr Mwila that while young people have potential for innovation, it is unfortunate that they are unable to access the necessary financial support because of the rigid lending conditions. We urge CEEC to therefore develop and implement strategies that will help raise a pool of young entrepreneurs. Mr Mwila is therefore spot on when he states that CEEC should consider giving young people “a friendly package” void of tough conditions attached to loans such as the demand for collateral. In as much as youth participation is cardinal in national development, they are unable to participate effectively if they are not empowered. Fortunately the Head of State not only has a heart for young people but understands their needs and is keen to uplift their lives. The onus is on them to take advantage of this situation to seek empowerment. Young people have in some cases been side-lined when it comes to projects by some “selfish” individuals, but this should not be the case. We have in mind the project by the President to empower them through the GRZ Higer buses where youths appear to have been marginalised. The sentiments by PF member, Howard Lutoba over the Higer buses issue should therefore not be taken lightly but deserves serious attention. In his message to young people marking Youth Day Celebrations, Mr Lutoba observed that it was regrettable that some officials allegedly ignored the plight of young people. The interests of young people must always be cardinal, this is as it should be. We therefore implore the CEEC to consider removing rigid restrictions that hinder youths from accessing the much-needed finances. The youth as future leaders deserve all the financial, social and material support if they have to succeed in their endeavours.