By Steve Chirombo
DEDZA-(MaraviPost)-Credit Manager for National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF), Whyton Mweta, has applauded President Dr Lazarus Chakwera’s leadership for ensuring funds are resourced for the institution.
Speaking with Malawi News Agency (MANA) at the end of an engagement meeting the organization had with youths drawn from eight constituencies of Dedza, Mweta said his office has so far disbursed K255 billion in a period of four years and 10 months.
“If this trend continues, we should expect more in the next five or six years to come. So far 280,000 Malawians have accessed loans from NEEF. This has been made possible because of the current leadership which guarantees that enough money is pumped into this basket and is accessible.
“As such, let us not look at the primary beneficiaries but the ripple effects such as job creation and economic empowerment,” he added.
NEEF Zone Manager for Lilongwe South, Sarah Gomera, said the engagement was to highlight more about NEEF while encouraging youth to take loans.
She said Dedza is good in loan repayment as it stands at 79 percent surpassing the zone’s total statistics which stand at 61 percent.
“We are also encouraging the youths, among others, to focus much on irrigation farming as well as value addition which will automatically enhance job creation,” she stated.
Philimon Siyani, a youth from Chiludzi area under Mulunduni Constituency, hailed the engagement saying, among others, it instilled in them the spirit of investment and also paying back the loan.
“We have also learned of various types of loans and how we can organize ourselves to access them,” he said.
Wezzie Kamanga from Kachere area under Dedza Boma Constituency, said the engagement has helped her, and others, to envision a brighter future.
“As a youth and a student, I have gained knowledge that we need not wait for white-collar jobs but utilize these available opportunities.” she pointed out.