Minister of Youth and Sport Grace Chiumia has said government will thoroughly analyse strategies which could sustain its socio- economic gains before it starts disbursing loans to the youth as the previous loan facilities were politicised.
Chiumia made the remarks at Mkumba Teachers Development Centre in Mangochi on Wednesday during the launch of an agri-business project for the youth.
Said Chiumia: “Many youths who benefitted from the previous loan facility have not yet repaid it and most of them are failing to pay back the loan since it was heavily politicised with most beneficiaries getting it as some politician’s cronies. So as government, we are reviewing the whole thing.
“As government, we would like to see the agri-business project launched today bring meaningful impact on the youth to be economically empowered. I want this project to bear good fruits and transform lives of the youth because there have been some initiatives and programmes before for the youth which have not brought any change to their lives,” she said.
Chiumia said the project is being implemented in 11 districts with support from Unicef.
Member of Parliament for Mangochi South Constituency Lillian Patel said the project would help transform the lives of the youth in her area. n
