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{
    "id": 493834,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/493834/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 198,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. Sakaja",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13131,
        "legal_name": "Johnson Arthur Sakaja",
        "slug": "johnson-arthur-sakaja"
    },
    "content": "Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker, I will be very careful on how I speak, so that you do not cut me off the microphone. Earlier on, I heard some hon. Members argue that the reason as to why the proposed fund should be created is that the youth are not accessing the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, and that they do not have ideas and skills. I want to vehemently oppose that argument. The young people in this country have the skills, the ability, zeal and the energy required. It is just because there are certain structural bureaucracies that have not enabled young people to access the funds. I would like us to look at this issue in a different way. The reason as to why we have this Motion here is because there is a structural inadequacy in our social welfare programme in this country. We addressed the issue of those people who are living below the poverty line. Those are people who cannot afford to eke out a living and who are outside the age bracket of the youth. However, to say that those funds are perpetuating discrimination is not true because Article 55 of the Constitution is very clear that there must be affirmative action for the youth and the women. That is why we have a youth fund and a Women’s fund. Therefore, as much as I support the spirit of this Motion, I oppose its later proposition. What we need to look at is financial inclusion for the informal sector. We need to look into the possibility of creating an SME Fund to address the issues of people in business. We need to look at the amount of money going to the Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) and the Agricultural Development Corporation (ADC), so that people above the age of 35 years can participate in economic activities. Those below that age are at a transitional age and they need to be supported in that manner. I will help the hon. Member because I am not doing the wrong thing. The Bible says: “Iron sharpens iron. So, man sharpens man.” So, with the two minutes that I am just about to finish, I have just sharpened his mind. Thank you."
}