Tatenda Sithole
BINGA youth have expressed concern over their low representation in decision making, income generating projects as well as agriculture schemes.
A Binga youth Pota Muzamba told The Zambezi Times that youth should be included in incoming generating projects.
“The biggest challenge we have in Binga is that most youth are not involved in income generating projects and they end up migrating to other districts to work in mines and unfortunately some of these mines end up collapsing and killing our youth. The youths should be given income generating projects in their wards and this will reduce risk behaviors.”
Another youth Rejoice Mlilo said low representation has created limited opportunities for implementation of life skills training programmes that the youth are in dire need of in the face of scarcity of vocational schools in the area.
“There are various problems we face as youth in Binga which include unemployment and limited opportunities for life skills training problems faced by youth,” she said.
“There is a lack of platforms where we can engage as youths and talk about issues that affect us and best possible strategies on how they can be solved.”
“There is very low representation of youths in decision making processes. In some rural and remote areas, some in school youth travel long distances to reach out to their schools and this jeopardizes the right to quality education,” she said.
Zewuka 1 village head in Mabobolo area Bright Munkombwe said there was high unemployment in the area.
“There is a lack of financial support to do livelihood projects. We have no higher educational institutions and that is limiting us from acquiring what is needed for our youth to be employed
“We as youth in Binga we are not prioritised that is why we do not have social centers for youths,”
He added: “The government is not bringing up any project here like in other districts like Lupane. This has caused youth to engage themselves in illicit drug and criminal activities.”
