Resource for development - A youth entrepreneur has said youths are an important resource for development if they are given the necessary skills. Kingsley Mbewe proprietor of Eastwood Carpentry and Joinery said, there was need for empowering youths with skills before they could contribute to national development.
Mr Mbewe said most youths did not realise their capabilities hence the need for the Government to consider coming up with youth training centres across the country.
"Most of us just go into business without basic skills and we don't even know what we can do better, so it can be good if the Government can establish youth training centres across the country," he said.
Speaking in an interview yesterday after the Youth Day celebrations, Mr Mbewe said if created, youth training centres would help them realise the best beats in business thereby making it easy for them to grow business effectively.
This year's Youth Day celebrations was commemorated under the theme 'Opportunities for Youth Enterprise'
He said most youth entrepreneurship businesses fail to flourish because of limited skills among other challenges.
Mr Mbewe said lack of capital was another constraint which needed to be quickly addressed as they are making youth entrepreneurs unproductive.
He however said that, the country needs to promote sustainable youth business skills targeted at youths to increase employment opportunities.
He said youths should rise to the challenge and take part in developing the country through business.
"Am urging my fellow youths who are not in employment to rise to the challenge and start a business. This is the only way we can make it and this will also go along way in contributing to national development," he said.
He said the Government plans to formulate policies that support youth entrepreneurs to encourage youths to participate in national development.
The Government said it would ensure that it formulated policies that would stir youth participation in wealth creation as well as, national development.
By Nchimunya Muganya
The Times of Zambia/13/03/2013