YOUTH and Sports Minister Jese Saukuru has rejected any suggestion that the distribution of Government assistance to young entrepreneurs in the North is linked to vote-buying.
Mr Saukuru said the grants being distributed were from the previous financial year and based on applications received by the ministry.
His comments followed questions about his call for young people to participate in the electoral process during the grant presentation.
“I’m not calling them to vote for anybody. I’m just encouraging them to participate,” he said.
He said young people had the right to decide who they wanted to represent them.
He said voter participation had been a concern, particularly among young people, during the 2018 and 2022 general elections.
“If you go back to 2018 and 2022, a lot of our people didn’t vote, and a big percentage of it were youths.”
His message to young people is to exercise their democratic rights and choose the Government they want.
“You must choose your future. Choose your next government. That’s your choice.”
He said the distribution of grants was part of the ministry’s normal work and should not be interpreted as political campaigning.
