Artistes urged to apply for empowerment

THERE is need to identify artistes in Kalumbila who can apply for the K30 million empowerment funds, DistrictCommissioner (DC), Robinson Kalota, has said. Mr Kalota said in an interview that there was need to identify and engage artistes in the district so that they could benefit from the funds. “The gesture by President Edgar Lungu is a welcome move because other empowerment initiatives usually leave out the artistes. Their inclusion on empowerment initiatives such as this one will enhance their contribution to the country’s economy. “This is a new introduction to artists, so we need to identify artistes in the district and have an engagement with them at district administration,” he said. Mr Kalota encouraged artistes in the district to come through to his office for the application forms and guidance on how toaccess the funds. The DC said he would like to see artistes set up fruitful ventures in the district. “For Kalumbila district, I would like them to set up a studio and further their careers as well as explore other artistic ventures,” Mr Kalota said. He said the beneficiaries must endeavour to venture into projects that would help them repay the loans. “They should think of ventures that will help them to pay back the loan. The more loans are paid back, the more we encourage government to fund more empowerment projects,” he explained. Meanwhile, Youth Alliance District Association (YADA) president, Emmanuel Nkole, suggested that the scheme should be in form of a grant. “There are sectors that need grants and others that require loans. This initiative was supposed to be a grant not a loan because there is high competition among artistes…we do not want them to default on these loans,” Mr Nkole said.He however, encouraged the artistes to work hard and put the loans to good use so that they could progress in their careers. The Sun