2)–ZNS urged to identify youths for empowerment

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The Zambia National Service (ZNS) has been urged to identify youths that it recently trained so that they can be helped apply for empowerment funds from government.

ZNS Director of Sport and Culture Colonel Mathias Banda said this was the only way acquired skills could make a huge difference in the lives of many underprivileged youth.

Coll Banda was speaking when he officiated at the ZNS Annual ball held at Chiwoko camp in Chipata yesterday.

He said the responsibility of training and transforming the vulnerable youths into productive citizens was one way government recognized ZNS ability to diligently carryout national programmes.

‘’ ZNS Chiwoko should therefore reciprocate this government’s confidence vested in us by continuing to churn out graduates that are adequately equipped with life sustaining skills,’’ Colonel Banda said.

He urged ZNS officers to continue exhibiting exemplary conduct during training of the youths adding that no one should be tempted to physically or mentally abuse the vulnerable young people.

‘’ The Command’s prayer is to see the youth who graduated from the first three intakes, identified, organized into cooperatives and helped to apply for empowerment funds set aside in the Ministries of Gender, Youth and Sport or indeed Community Development and Social Welfare in order to put their acquired skills to good use,’’ he said.

Col Banda however noted that it was gratifying to note that government through the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication was working on an empowerment programme that would see recently graduated youth integrated into the system.

The Zambia National Service at Chiwoko in Chipata and Kitwe have so far trained 1, 600 youth in various skills that include carpentry and joinery, metal fabrication, automotive mechanics, shoe making, brick laying and plastering .

Other skills are catering, tailoring and designing including general agriculture.

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