Kalulushi DC calls on Youths to embrace entrepreneurship

—-Kalulushi District Commissioner Kampamba Mulenga has called on University and College graduates to embrace entrepreneurship as it’s the only way to creating jobs.

Speaking during this year’s commemoration of Youth Day, Ms. Mulenga said the PF government has in this year’s budget provided KR19 million for youths to start and grow their businesses.

Ms. Mulenga said government was working hard to create employment opportunities in the formal sector saying it was however imperative that Zambian youths are encouraged to venture into the  informal sector.

 

She said youths need to venture into activities such as small scale primary agriculture, gemstone and timber processing, dairy, fish farming and other gainful ventures.

She further stated that government was aware that many youths had little or no experience in public procurement processes and could not compete effectively with large and well established business.

Ms. Mulenga said in order to enable youths participate meaningfully in public procurement, there was need to develop an affirmative action policy guidelines that favours youths in public procurement as that would increase youth’s access to procurement of goods and services.

The Kalulushi DC stated that there was need for the nation to realize the fact that young people have potential to contribute to regional economy by supporting and growing pool of young entrepreneurs capable of spearheading sustainable development.

She however, appealed to youths to rise to the global challenges affecting the nation.

And speaking earlier, Dreams Image Branch Secretary Brian Nkwazi said this year’s Youth Day celebration was a wakeup call for them from the way it was organized.

Nkwazi said Kalulushi had a youth district commissioner who was serving as chairperson for the organising committee for the event.

He said the theme for this year "Opportunities for youths through entrepreneurship" had come at the right time when most youths in the district were involved in business and other activities.

He said government should think of other youths who were not educated and did not know how to make business proposals or project proposals as they too had brilliant ideas.