Form cooperatives,Karonga youths told
National Youth Council of Malawi executive director Rex Chapota has urged the youth in Karonga District to form cooperatives and benefit from various grants.
In an interview on Saturday after visiting Kachila Youth Initiative in the district, he said the youth have untapped potential to turn around the country’s economy through farming and entrepreneurship.
Said Chapota: “If we talk of making Malawi a middle-income economy through the Malawi 2063 development blueprint, then we cannot exclude the youth. They have the potential and what is needed is just support.
“However, that support cannot come at individual level. Form cooperatives and embark on farming and entrepreneurship to benefit from various grants and become economically independent.”
He said as a mother body, the council is always available to offer technical support to youth organisations to produce sound business plans that will convince financial lending institutions to lend them capital.
“Since Kachila Youth Initiative has land, the council is ready to link it with banks and other financial lending institutions for low interest rate loans,” said Chapota.
Kachila Youth Initiative programmes manager Thomas Mbobe commended the council for their visit.
He said they have land and what was remaining was financial capital.
“At the moment, we depend on donor support, which is not sustainable. But with sustainable ways of resource mobilisation, we can work with our affiliates to embark on agribusiness and boost our financial base,” he said.
Thunduti Youth Empowerment Club chairperson John Gondwe agreed with Chapota’s sentiments, saying the youth have the potential to contribute towards the growth of the country’s economy.
