National Youth Service on track—Minister
By Samuel Kalimira:
Youth and Sports Minister Uchizi Mkandawire has said the National Youth Service (NYS) programme is on track.
President Lazarus Chakwera launched the programme in Neno District in July last year, indicating that it was premised on empowering youths with technical skills that would spur economic independence.
Speaking at a development rally in Thumbi area, Mzimba North, Mkandawire said the ministry’s plan is to take NYS into districts before it is downscaled to constituencies.
“NYS is a game-changer because if youths, who are in majority in the country, are empowered, they can help transform the country, be it socially or economically.
“I am happy to report that we are on track. The plan is that, once the 2023-24 national budget is passed, we should go into districts and, later, constituencies. We want this programme to change the lives of youths who are staying idle in communities due to unemployment,” Mkandawire said.
Speaking at the rally, Defence Minister-cum-Malawi Congress Party vice president Harry Mkandawire encouraged youths to venture into farming, saying agri-business has potential to transform their lives.
“Let the youth not only think of white-collar jobs only. They can do equally important things if they embrace vocational training and farming. As a farmer, I encourage them to venture into farming because I am sure that their lives will be transformed,” Mkandawire said.
Traditional Authority Jalavikuwa, who attended the meeting, asked the two ministers to liaise with their counterpart at agriculture on the issue of restocking Agricultural Development and Marketing Corperation depots as there is looming hunger in his area.
Jalavikuwa also asked the government to work on challenges surrounding the 2022-23 Affordable Inputs Programme implementation, saying some intended beneficiaries in his area are yet to redeem Urea fertiliser.
