(NYASATIMES) Youths angered by delay of disbarment of development loan funds

Youths angered by delay of disbarment of development loan funds
By Nyasa Times
Published: October 24, 2009

Delays to start disbursing funds from the K2 billion Youth Development Fund has angered some central region youths, who have since written a letter of complaint to Sports and Youth Development Minister Luscious Kanyumba.

Kanyumba acknowledged receiving the letter from Concerned Youth Movement (COYUM), a network of youths in the country.

COYUM Central Regional Coordinator, Andrew Mtambalika, said they decided to pen the Minister because of concerns over “unnecessary delays to start disbursing funds”, some three months after the country’s new fiscal year.

“If something has been budgeted for, it becomes law. We are therefore wondering why government is breaking the law,” said Mtambalika.

Mtambalika quashed claims the youths were being sent by politicians, saying speculation that Malawi Congress Party (MCP) president John Tembo was behind the move were machinations of ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) zealots.

“We are apolitical,” he said.

Kanyumba, while acknowledging receipt of the letter, said government was working around the clock to make sure that disbursement starts soon.

“When the president, Ngwazi Dr. Bingu wa Mutharika, promises, it always happens. Haven’t you seen the adverts in newspapers calling for people to fill vacancies tenable at the fund’s secretariat?” queried Kanyumba.

Mutharika pledges during May campaign that he would establish the loan development fund at the tune of K2 billion to empower the youth, mostly the unemployed.