Govt loses $80 000 as youths flee to South Africa

While making a presentation at a provincial advocacy meeting for HIV programming for displaced communities in Bulawayo on Friday, Matabeleland North provincial head in the Ministry of Indigenisation Mr Buthumuzi Ngwenya revealed that the majority of youths in Tsholotsho who received loans from Government to start income generating projects skipped the country and headed to South Africa resulting in only $7 000 being repaid from the $87 000 that was given out.

He said most of the youths who benefited from Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund left for South Africa with the money. Said Ngwenya:

Out of the seven districts in the province, Tsholotsho was the worst in terms of repayment of the Youth Fund. The district received $87 000. Out of that money $80 000 disappeared. The youths were receiving $1 200 as individuals and most of them didn’t repay. They left for South Africa and used the money for their upkeep in the neighbouring country as they looked for jobs. It’s difficult to trace them.

He said 90 percent of the youths in Binga managed to pay back the money while other districts including Nkayi, Umguza, Hwange and Lupane also tried to pay back the loans. Mr Ngwenya said it was difficult to use traditional leaders to trace the youths as some of the leaders also benefited from Government funds but never paid back.

More: Herald