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Immorality among youth alarming, says Mpango

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The Vice President, Dr Philip Mpango, speaks at the opening of a youth forum at the Jakaya Kikwete Conference Centre in Dodoma on August 7, 2023. PHOTO | VICE PRESIDENT’S OFFICE

What you need to know:

  • Dr Mpango called on the youth to individually fulfil their responsibilities and benefit from many opportunities as the government work to empower them.

Dar es Salaam. The Vice-President Dr Philip Mpango yesterday warned against rising cases of immorality among youth and issued five directives for district councils to undertake to empower the group economically.

Dr Mpango issued the directives during a Youth Forum in Dodoma, noting that ethics among the youth have adversely deteriorated, especially in urban areas as the number of teens involved in immoral acts was alarming.

During the event organised by Dodoma regional authority and the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), the vice president said the youth’ trustworthiness was worrying.

He said the group disobey laws of the country and lacked respect for the government.

He said most of them have low efficiency at work, but they have a strong desire to get quick wealth through illegal ways.

“This is a serious problem to our country if appropriate measures are not taken immediately. Integrity is a major quality for all citizens, once the youth lack integrity, the nation will hardly get good leaders and they will not be trusted by financial institutions,” he said in his opening speech.

Dr Mpango said the youth will not make good citizens if they are disobedient to laws.

“Therefore, I call upon the youth to avoid involvement in acts that are against the country’s tradition including the use of illicit drugs; robbery, homosexuality, corruption, conning and several others,” he added.

Dr Mpango called on the youth to individually fulfil their responsibilities and benefit from many opportunities as the government work to empower them.

Dr Mpango directed district councils to organise and connect to easy access to institutional services to help address the challenges they face.

He named some of the challenges as lack of capital, difficulties in accessing title deeds of lands for agriculture and livestock keeping, business formalisation as well as production that meet required standards.

“Special areas should be allocated for production of goods including establishing clusters aligned with opportunities available in respective councils including agriculture, livestock keeping, businesses among others,” he said.

Dr Mpango also directed councils to help the youth access capital through available funds and loans programmes for the youth in the local banks.

“After attending the forum and visiting the exhibitions, women and the youth were seem to be ready to tap opportunities after developing attractive ideas, but they were unable to access important information on how to get loans despite the presence of NMB Bank PLC, CRDB Bank PLC and the Cereals and Other Produce Board (CPB) at the same place.

“It is important for the councils, Regional Commissioners (RCs) and District Commissioners (DCs) to actively connect the women and the youth to available opportunities,” directed Dr Mpango.

He also told councils to establish a database of the youth stating their knowledge and profession in order to facilitate connectivity.

“The youth should also be mobilised and motivated to form environmental related clubs in their respective schools, colleges and institutions to make a positive contribution in environmental conservation efforts,” he stressed.

Dr Mpango called on the youth to tap available opportunities in the area of climate mitigation including tree planting; waste collections and establishing sanitation and hygiene companies.

Others are production of larvae for animal feed, carbon trading, establishing tree nurseries and engagement in its business as well as involvement in beekeeping.

Deputy Minister of state in the President’s Office-Regional Administration and Local Government (Education) Deogratius Ndejembi said the 10 percent loan review issued to the Women, Youth and People with Disabilities (WYPwDs) has been completed, noting that the document has been handled to the docket minister Angellah Kairuki ready for submission to President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

“Among the changes that are expected after the Head of State’s approval is allowing the youth to secure loans disbursed by councils individually instead of making it mandatory to form or join groups,” he said.

Some of the topics that would be presented during a two day event include the youth’s role in building the nation and opportunities for the youth available in the financial institutions.