By Milca Matias
BLANTYRE-(MANA)-President Lazarus Chakwera says there is need to put in place deliberate policies that should allow youth to access loans so as to push them forward for self economic reliance that can lead to socio-economic national development.
The president said this at Sanjika Palace, Thursday afternoon when he interacted with young people from the Southern Region to unpack some of the issues he presented in parliament in his State of National Address (SONA) recently.
He cited National Economic Empowerment Fund (NEEF) as crucial in empowering the youth economically.
“I have instructed NEEF to put in place deliberate policies that should facilitate loan acquisitions among young people to allow them venture into farming on top of getting fertliser on loan,” he assured the youth, adding that the National Budget, to be presented in Parliament soon will include many issues to do with youth empowerment.
He said the World Bank is ready to support many youths focus programme, adding that this will be a game changer among the youths in the country.
“The World Bank is ready to provide financial resources towards youth empowerment, We therefore need to teach the youths financial literacy on how to manage businesses,” he added.
Apart from questions to do with NEEF loan access, the youth, through facebook were also eager to know more on sports development, youth participation in mining through youth-led cooperatives,