The Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission – CEEC has spent over K318 million through its aquaculture seed fund, cassava integration fund, matching grand facility and industry development under skills development and entrepreneurship projects.
Since the commission’s operations in 2008 it has spent K318 million and financed 2,988 projects across the country which have been following a policy of geographic equity since 2014.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka on April 23th ,2019 attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, CEEC Director General Likando Mukumbuta said the distribution of resources in the projects done, 34% has gone to women, 27% has gone to youths while 1% has gone to the physically challenged.
Mr Mukumbuta added that the commission has in total spent 62% to women and youths who are its focus adding the empowerment of women and youths is critical to economic development in Zambia as over 65% of the countries’ population constitutes of women and young people.
He disclosed that 12,000 jobs will be created in the country through its cassava fund programme adding that 24 cassava processing companies have been approved for funding in order to boost the cassava value chain.
He said it is for this reason that the commission has selected over 500 women to be trained in cassava commercialization and will be organized comparatively. He further said that 120 cassava seed multipliers have been appointed and trained while 66 palates have been produced through Zambia Agriculture Research Institute – ZARI for the cassava seed multipliers.
“We are also providing loans which will go along with technical assistance mainly referred to as business development support in order to provide access to finance for our citizens and to provide them with the business support that is necessary for them to grow their business,” he said.
