K24 Million Disbursed To Youth-Led Businesses Through Imisepela

More than K24 million has so far been disbursed in funding youth-led businesses on the Imisepela application, with about 2,300 people securing employment through the platform since its launch in March this year. Special Assistant to the President for Finance and Investment Jito…

More than K24 million has so far been disbursed in funding youth-led businesses on the Imisepela application, with about 2,300 people securing employment through the platform since its launch in March this year.

Special Assistant to the President for Finance and Investment Jito Kayumba said the initiative was helping young people access funding and employment opportunities.

He told ZNBC News that the platform was also offering an opportunity for business and skills development masterclasses, adding a training dimension to the funding support already being provided to young entrepreneurs.

Mr Kayumba said the programme was ongoing and was ensuring that youths were empowered, positioning Imisepela as a continuing rather than a time-limited initiative.

He also dismissed allegations that the programme was no longer operational, saying such claims had been made by people whose applications were unsuccessful because they did not meet the required criteria.

The clarification comes at a time when Government-backed youth empowerment platforms have faced public scrutiny over transparency and continued functionality, making Mr Kayumba’s intervention a direct rebuttal to that narrative.

With more than K24 million already disbursed and thousands of young people reporting new employment through the platform, Imisepela is being positioned by Government as a practical delivery mechanism under its broader youth economic empowerment strategy.

The masterclasses referenced by Mr Kayumba suggest the platform is intended to go beyond simple disbursement of funds, aiming instead to build the business and skills capacity of young entrepreneurs so that funded ventures are more likely to succeed and sustain employment over time.

For young Zambians who have already benefited, the figures represent tangible proof that the platform is functioning as intended. For those whose applications were unsuccessful, Mr Kayumba’s explanation places responsibility on eligibility criteria rather than any failure of the programme itself.

Attention will now turn to how quickly the remaining funds are disbursed and whether the number of jobs secured through the platform continues to grow as more youth-led businesses come on stream.