Mpika MP launches empowerment project
YOUTHS and women should develop a culture of saving in order to enhance financial
discipline, Mpika, Central Member of Parliament (MP) Sylvia Chalikosa has said.
Ms Chalikosa said youths and women should consider embracing the habit of saving and investing as a surest of ending poverty.
She was speaking during the launch of Mpika Central 5000 family system, a project aimed at empowering youths.
The MP said she has partnered with Kalumbila Multipurpose Cooperative Society to empower 5,000 youths under the 5,000 family project.
“The 5,000 family project is aimed empowering youths, women and students through agriculture and other activities for them to be self-sustaining,” she said. Ms Chalikosa said she had paid membership for 3000 vulnerable women and youths who were expected to start getting divided from the proceeds.
“I provided seed capital of K30,000 to start this project in my constituency because I believe that empowering women and youths is the surest way of ending poverty and attainment of economic freedom,” Ms Chalikosa said.
And Kalumbila
Multi-purpose Co-operative Society Limited Chairperson, Chilekwa Mambwe, said the Mpika Central 5000 family has so far planted more than 4,000 tomato seedlings that were expected to be ready in the next 82 days.
“As a cooperative we want to promote value addition so we will be packaging and exporting some of our products to the neighbouring country’s to realise maximum profits,” Mr Chilekwa said. He said once harvested the produce would be sold and the 5000 family members would share dividends while part of the proceeds would be reinvested in the project.
Mr Chilekwa said the project would also take advantage of the readily vegetable market in Mpika to grow six limas of rape and Chinese cabbage.
He said the project would also venture into other activities such as aquaculture, animal husbandry and mining.
Mr Chilekwa said the 5000 family would also buy share into Kalumbila Multipurpose Cooperative Society which was into mining, real estate among other economic activities.
e 5,000 family project is aimed empowering youths, women and students through agriculture and other activities for them to be selfsustaining.