Photo: Vanguard

Unemployed youths in Nigeria.

PRESIDENT Michael Sata says the Government is developing a framework for industrialisation and job creation aimed at transforming the economy.

President Sata said the framework would focus on high employment potential sectors such as agriculture, tourism, construction and manufacturing in which the youth will be heavily involved.

The Head of State said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice-President Guy Scott during the national Youth Day celebrations at the Freedom Statue in Lusaka yesterday.

Mr Sata said his Government has made tremendous progress in youth development since it was voted into office.

He said the Government had made strides to develop policies and programmes that would promote youth participation in the social-economic development of the country.

"My Government is committed to creating employment and enterprise development opportunities for our youth. We shall therefore continue to develop policies that promote youth participation in the social-economic development of the country," he said.

The President who thanked the youths especially from the opposition for taking part in the national event said the PF had started working on the creation of industrial clusters countrywide that would promote production and business opportunities. This year's theme is 'Opportunity for Youth through Enterprise.'

Mr Sata said this year's theme was most appropriate and timely as it called for the promotion of entrepreneurship and enterprise development among the youth for wealth.

The President urged youths to take advantage of the many entrepreneurial opportunities and contribute to national development.

To improve the quality of vocational skills training for the youth, the Government had commenced the development of more youth resource centres in Kalabo and Muoyo in Western Province, Kwilimuna on the Copperbelt and Luwingu in Northern Province.

Youth and Sport Minister Chishimba Kambwili said during the last 12 months, his ministry had made progress in the implementation of youth empowerment which included, youth skills development and training and development of a youth empowerment strategy.

Other strategies include the decentralisation of the Ministry of Youth and Sport to districts level and the Youth Development Fund which had seen over KR11.8 million disbursed last year to over 500 young entrepreneurs countrywide.

JULIUS PHIRI reports from Chipata that Eastern Province Minister Malozo Sichone said Government is committed to creating a better Zambia for all by providing inspirational and visionary leadership to the nation by promoting inclusive governance.

Mr Sichone who was represented by Provincial Deputy Permanent Secretary Zechariah Luhanga said the Government would create more employment opportunities.