JULIET MAKWAMA writes
ZAMBIA needs to set up more skills training centers for the youths to enhance economic independence among young people, says Zambian Empowerment Hub for Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (ZEHEST) director Clarence Muzyamba.
Mr Muzyamba said skills promotion would be key to creating employment and reducing poverty among young people across Zambia.
Mr Muzyamba said there was need to ensure enough training centers wee dotted across Zambia to cater for youths that lacked the kind of education, training and effective vocational guidance to meet industrial needs.
He said there was need to encourage an environment where youths used their skills to alleviate poverty and not just wait to be employed.
“We believe that training centres are key to poverty alleviation and national economic growth,” he said.
He said Zambia needed holistic policies that would encourage an environment which favoured youths’ participation in job creation through skills.
“We are optimistic with the new minister of youth and sport that he will re-vive training centres across Zambia so that no inactive youth is left behind in contributing to national development through the skills training,” Mr Muzyamba said.
Mr Muzyamba has since called on the new Minister of Youth and Sports Emmanuel Mulenga to do more in the promotion of skills training among young people.
And Mr Muzyamba has urged Mr Mulenga to ensure all sports disciplined were adequately promoted instead of placing a lot of emphasis on soccer.
“We have high expectations that the new minister will cast the net wider as there are many sports disciplines apart soccer which equally need to be promoted,” he said.
Youths in Zambia make up almost two thirds of Zambia’s working-age population and almost one quarter of them are unemployed, according to a World Bank report.
