ANDREW MUKOMA writes
A youth empowerment venture has been formed in Kazungulawith a view of empowering unemployed youths in the district.
The initiative involves chicken rearing programme in which, Stanley Simukoko, has mobilised about 100 youths with a view of empowering them.
Mr Simukoko said before the beneficiaries are handed over all necessary materials for chicken rearing, they will undergo some training in business skills and will also be trained on how to manage poultry.
“We have identified some young people in Kazungula whom we have empowered with the skills of chicken rearing. This is in an important income generating activity for the young people especially with the high levels of unemployment in the district,” Mr Simukoko said.
He told the Daily Nation in an interview that in view of the COVID-19 which had slowed down border trade, he felt compelled to help the young people of Kazungula.
Mr Simukoko said some of the young people depended on currency changing business at the border and since the other border in Kasane, Botswana was closed, cross border and traffic had reduced.
“COVID 19 has negatively affected our young people and some of them do not have the means to deal with it. So, I felt the need to ensure that they are empowered as a way of reducing the pressure they are having…that is why we doing poultry,” he said.
Mr Simukoko said he felt duty bound to ensure that the young people were given the right skills adding that the youth would undertake the project on a revolving basis.