Alliance for Accountability Advocate Zambia says it appreciates government’s efforts in trying to empower youths and the different people that need empowerment.
Reacting to the expected launch of a multi-million Youth Empowerment Fund in Kitwe, by President Edgar Lungu this Saturday, Alliance Executive Director Luchembe Chilufya however urged government to put in place proper mechanism to monitor the disbursement of the funds and how they will be utilized.
Mr. Chilufya told Money FM News in an interview that most organizations have always expressed concern on how empowerment funds are disbursed, adding that if the resources were given as a loan, it even becomes more difficult to recover the loans from the beneficiaries because the mechanisms that are put in place are not efficient and effective.
He observed that in some instances, institutions that are given the responsibility to handle the resources, do not have the capacity to do so, hence the money ends up going to waste.
“We appreciate the efforts government has been putting in place in trying to empower the youth and the different people that need empowerment. But I think most organizations and partners have always expressed concern when it comes to how these resources are disbursed in a sense that there is no proper mechanism that is put in place to monitor the disbursement, to monitor how these resources are being utilized.”
“If these resources were given as a loan, it even becomes very difficult to recover the loans form these people that are given because the mechanisms that are put in place are not efficient and effective. And also sometimes, institutions that are given the responsibility to handle these resources, they don’t have the capacity to manage grants or loans, so you find these resources just go to waste or they don’t bring out the intended purpose of empowering and these resources being revolving fund for example,” Mr. Luchembe said.
Mr. Luchembe emphasized the need for government to ensure the disbursement of funds follow the principles that have been put in place and see to it that intended beneficiaries access the money for the benefit of the country’s economic growth.
Meanwhile, Mr. Luchembe called on the youth who are going to access the funds to be patriotic to the country and strive to use the money in a responsible manner.
“My message to Youths who are going to access these funds is let’s be patriotic to our country; we have to contribute positively to the development of this nation because this nation’s development depends on the youth.”
“If we are not patriotic and use this money the way we want to use it, without thinking about the next person, then we are just doing a disservice to ourselves as youths, so we have to be responsible, we have to know why we are getting these resources and use them effectively and efficiently,” he emphasized.
President Edgar Lungu is this Saturday expected to launch a multi-million youth empowerment fund in Kitwe, on the Copperbelt.