Council disburses K9 million to youth, women groups

By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre District Council, through Blantyre North East Constituency Development Fund (CDF), has disbursed K9 million under the Youth and Women Economic Empowerment Loans to 10 business groups in the constituency.

Speaking during the launch of the initiative on Thursday in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kapeni in Blantyre, the district council’s Gender Officer Agness Napwanga said the amount is part of K90 million meant for the implementation of development projects in the constituency.

She said each group has received different loan amounts, depending on their membership, existence and also type of business ventures among others.

The groups include Kapeni Youth network, Tipindule, Bwemba Village Bank, Taomboledwa, and Dambanya Village Savings and Loan Group, among others.

“This is the first cohort in this constituency to benefit from the loans that are solely coming from government coffers, not from the Member of Parliament\’s pocket. We therefore expect you to prudently invest it or top up in your business ventures to increase your financial base so that you will be able to repay it in three months,” she told the recipients.

MP for Blantyre North East Constituency, Fidson Chisesela, hailed Blantyre District Council for the initiative, observing that the loans will encourage youth, women and men to actively engage in various income generating activities to support their livelihoods.

He therefore advised the loan beneficiaries to follow all the guidelines that have been instituted by the committee responsible for the operation and sustainability of the revolving fund at constituency level.

Taking his turn, T/A Kapeni said he was optimistic that with the economic empowerment initiative for the youth and women, his subjects and the area at large will transform for the better.

He advised the loan beneficiaries to invest their money in legit businesses.

One of the beneficiaries, Stella Banda, hailed the council for approving K1.5 million loan to their group, Kapeni Youth Network.

Banda, who is also vice chairperson for the area level youth network, said the group intends to use the money to top up the capital base in screen printing business.