adminIn an interview on Thursday, Matabeleland North provincial director in the Ministry Youth Development, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment, Mr Buthumuzi Ngwenya said the fund was being released in tranches. He said the province has already started accessing the first tranche of $10 000.
“We applied for $30 000 loan through the ministry’s Youth Development Fund (YDF) and it was approved early this year,” said Mr Ngwenya.
He said the second tranche was expected in the next two weeks.”
Mr Ngwenya said the bulk of the money would be used to boost youth projects at the provincial youth centre in Gwayi.
“We have used the first $10 000 for rehabilitation of irrigation equipment and a borehole at Gwayi youth centre, which is the production unit for Matabeleland North. We have also bought 200 chicks for the poultry project and vegetable seed,” said Mr Ngwenya.
Mr Ngwenya said plans were underway to introduce piggery at Gwayi youth centre.
He said the ministry would buy sows, which would be loaned to youths. Mr Ngwenya said youths that underwent training were now training their peers on how to run projects.
He urged the youths in the province to come up with business plans and apply for loans.
He urged the youth to form syndicates of similar projects in order to get substantial funding.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter