Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Margret Mwanakatwe
Minister of Finance Margret Mwanakatwe says over K3.9 billion has been provided in the 2018 Budget for empowerment programmes under various Ministries and Government Spending Agencies.
The Finance Minister says this is in addition to some on-going programmes facilitated through foreign financing such as the US$50 million Zambia Agriculture Enterprise Development Fund.
Ms Mwanakatwe breaks down the K3.9 billion that K48.2 million is under the Ministry of Youth and Sport for the Action Plan for Empowerment Programme; with K42.7 million is under the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) as Citizens Economic Empowerment Fund; while K38 million is meant for the Agriculture and Industrial Credit Fund and for Support to Agro Business.
She furthermore breaks down the funding with K12.5 million for the Women Empowerment Programme under the Ministry of Gender for 30,000 beneficiaries who will be empowered with productive grants and micro credit countrywide.
Ms Mwanakatwe says K38 million has been set for the Agriculture and Industrial Credit Fund and for Support to Agro Business, while K12.5 million is for the Women Empowerment Programme under the Ministry of Gender for 30,000 beneficiaries who will be empowered with productive grants and micro credit countrywide.
She adds that K16 million is under the Ministry of Defence for Youth Skills Training, Development, & Empowerment Programmes with K75.5 million is meant for educational support and grants in collaboration with the World Bank targeting 16, 000 girls from extremely poor households in 16 districts and a further 75,000 women with grants in 51 districts.
Ms Mwanakatwe has affirmed that there is need to learn from the country’s past challenges in managing empowerment funds if the nation has to charter the desired path to a bright destination for all beneficiaries.
She has echoed the government’s keenness to advance the nation’s interests and well-being in the management of empowerment funds.
To ensure that the trust and confidence that they people of Zambia have deposited in the Government is not betrayed, Mrs. Mwanakatwe says all Ministries, Provinces and Other Spending Agencies must remain fiscally disciplined and work hard to raise more of the resources in order to finance and help meet the nation’s development aspirations.
This is contained in a statement issued to QTV News by Ministry of Finance Head of Public Relations Chileshe Kandeta.