In a bold move aimed at empowering young people and stimulating grassroots economic development, Shadow MP for Salima South Constituency, Richard Kwalira, has launched a passport sponsorship initiative targeting 100 youth from the area.
Speaking on Thursday, April 24, 2025, Kwalira said he had already started the first phase by assisting 20 young people in processing their passports, which are fully funded from his personal resources.
“This is not to push our youth into leaving the country for good, but we want to give them a tool that will allow them to travel, do small cross-border business, and come back home to invest in their communities.” He explained.
Kwalira made it clear that the ultimate goal is to curb the growing trend where families are forced to sell their livestock or food stocks, such as bags of maize, just to finance travel for their children to countries like South Africa and Zimbabwe in search of work.
“I want to take that burden off their shoulders. No one should be forced to sell the little they have just for their child to chase uncertain opportunities abroad,” he emphasized.
One of the beneficiaries, Emmanuel Nsanyama, commended the initiative, saying it has come at the right time and will open doors for many young people like him.
He also urged fellow youth to support Shadow MP Richard Kwalira, saying leaders who think about the future of young people deserve full backing.
(By Fegson Phabuli)
