Youths demand jobs, recreational facilities
YOUTHS in Isoka have appealed to Government to provide recreation facilities to prevent them from engaging them in illicit behaviour.
PF Kasoka ward chairperson Willard Kapila said lack of recreation facilities in the district had resulted to abuse of drugs and alcohol as well as prostitution among youths. Mr Kapila said recreation facilities such as playgrounds, library and parks would keep youths occupied and refrain from illicit vices that endanger their lives. ‘‘Isoka does not have recreation facilities therefore, on behalf of fellow youths in Isoka, I would like to appeal to government to consider providing recreation facilities for youths. This will go a long way in reducing the increasing number of youths that are abusing drugs and alcohol,” Mr Kapila said. Mr Kapila said recreation facilities would also help youths promote physical fitness as way of preventing them from cardiac diseases. And Mr Kapila has appealed to government to extend youth empowerment programmes being implemented in other parts of the country to Isoka as way of fighting poverty. ‘‘Since 2016 Youths in Isoka have not benefitted from any youth empowerment programme and this has resulted into many youths to indulge in illicit activities such as beer drinking, smoking and stealing for them to survive, ’’ he said. He said Youth empowerment funds would help youth yet up their own businesses and create jobs for others. Mr Kapila said empowerment would help youths to venture into various economic activities and exploit the economic potential that the district is endowed with such as Agriculture. He said lack of empowerment for the youth would allow politicians to take advantage of the situation and use them as tools for political violence ahead of 2021 elections.