By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Youth, Sport and Arts Minister Elvis Nkandu says Government has set aside about 5-million Kwacha for the purchase of timber as part of the youth empowerment programs.
Mr Nkandu said that Ministry will secure timber stocks from Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation (ZAFFICO) and disburse to youth cooperatives across the country as loans.
Mr Nkandu said the move will help ease the tedious processes that youth entrepreneurs in the timber sector face when procuring timber from the Corporation.
He said youths that will benefit from the timber empowerment program under the Ministry will not be required to have timber trading licenses.
Speaking in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mr Nkandu said that Government has introduced a graduate empowerment program for youths graduating from Resource Centers.
“Youths with different skills sets will be empowered with necessary equipment and working capital upon graduation, about 15,000 youths in tertiary education will benefit from the free Education scholarships for the next three years,” he said.
Mr Nkandu said this will be done in partnership with the International Coalition of Fellowships (ICOF), emphasizing that each province will be allocated 5-hundred scholarships to award deserving students.
This is according to a statement released by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at Zambia’s High Commission in South Africa Naomi Nyawali.
