THE Office of the President in North-Western Province yesterday struggled to explain to the Public Accounts Committee why empowerment loans totalling K2,308,000 were irregularly awarded to 117 youth groups. And the Committee has heard that loans totalling K4,626,690 disbursed to 216 youth groups were not recovered as at June 30, 2022. The latest Auditor General’s report indicated that 117 youth groups were awarded loans in amounts totalling K2,308,000 without supporting documents such as loan application forms, copies of NRCs, certificates of cooperative registration and business proposals. During the committee sitting yesterday, Nalolo PNUP member of parliament Imanga Wamunyima asked why the Province awarded loans without following the guidelines. In response, North-Western provincial youth development coordinator Damiano Chishimba said beneficiaries submitted...