Youth ,Sports and Child Development minister Gabriel Namulambe has expressed disappointed with some provincial mobilizing officers for mobilising youths who are not vulnerable for the street youth rehabilitation programme.
Mr Namulambe has since directed the permanent secretary in the ministry of youth
,sport and child development Ambassador Bob Samakai to ensure that erring officers
are punished.
The minister was speaking at Chelstone’s Anglican Church today where 44 girls and
55 boys had been grouped for onward movement to Zambia National Serveice’s Kitwe
and Chipata camps respectively.
The minister who was speaking during the send off of the second group of street
kids after the first group left on Tuesday, the 6th of March.
”I am informed that one young lady here is married and the husband came to claim
her. I know there are many girls out there who need this help more instead of
picking on a married woman,” he said.
Mr Namulambe further warned officers not to frustrate government ‘s well
intentioned programmes.
”I am disappointed with one of your officers who out of negligence is getting us
wrong people. They are frustrating government’s programmes and are therefore
irrelevant . I f I was PS, I was going to punish this officer but I am a politician
who can only recommend to Ps what type of punishment,” the minister added.
Meanwhile ,a 24 year -old young lady of Mutendere township broke down after she was
left out of the group of girls going to Kitwe ZNS camp because her husband had come
to claim her saying he was not aware of her impending move.
The young lady who openly wept before the minister and the PS pleaded for inclusion
saying her husband always battered her and that all the four children she has had
with him are being kept by her mother because he does not support them.
She said that was why she felt she should go to the youth skills training centre so
that she could come out of there a self -reliant person.
However, her plea could not be heard as she was directed to report the case to
either the Victims support unit ,or the ministry of community development.
” The programme is meant for those who have no parents to look after them, or have
parents but are vulnerable, hence government’s taking up the responsibility to look
after them,” Mr Namulambe said.
The minister also appealed to the initiates to make use of the skills they will
acquire wisely.
He further urged them to change their behaviour and become role models to their
colleagues.
” I am your true friend as your minister as long as you behave yourselves. I want
one of you to be an instructor in the youth skills training centres under my
ministry,” the minister said to the applause of the youths.
This year, the ministry of youth ,sport and child development has sent the second
group of youths to Kitwe ZNS Camp (44 girls) and Chipata ZNS Camp ( 55 boys).
They are expected to be at the training centres for 18 months.
