The Zimbabwean government has taken significant steps to address the concerns of young people and integrate them into the economy, according to an official statement.
One of these initiatives is the establishment of Youth Focal Desks in all government ministries, ensuring that youth issues are considered in every sector of the economy.
During the inaugural Southern Africa Youth Business Forum, Vice President Cde Kembo Mohadi affirmed the government’s dedication to empowering young people and integrating them into the economy. He announced several initiatives aimed at supporting youth entrepreneurs and encouraging their active participation in national development.
“The government has established Youth Focal Desks in all its Ministries to facilitate youth mainstreaming in all sectors of the economy,” he stated.
“The government established a Youth Focused bank, the Empowerbank, to provide the much-needed financial and technical support to young entrepreneurs, including those interested in trade and exports,” he added.
This is complemented by the Vocational Training Centres in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Vocational Training, which aim to enhance the skills of young people.
“Twinned with the Vocational Training Centres in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment and Vocational Training, the government is prioritizing building capacities of youth to be able to effectively take part in National Development,” he emphasized.
“Education 5.0, also known as heritage-based education, is bound to catapult our young people into global innovative entrepreneurs,” he remarked.
To promote trade and export opportunities, ZimTrade, the national trade agency, has also implemented various programs aimed at assisting and building the capacity of young entrepreneurs.
“The national trade agency, ZimTrade, has also come up with a number of initiatives to assist and build the capacity of young entrepreneurs who want to participate in trade and export. One such initiative is the Eagles’ Nest program, their flagship youth program that has given birth to a number of young exporters,” Mohadi explained.
“The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), a one-stop investment hub established by the Second Republic, is also a tool that young people across the region, not only those in Zimbabwe, can utilize together with the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Mohadi added.
“Our National Youth Policy and economic blueprint, the National Development Strategy One (1), reinforces all the above-mentioned in terms of supporting the integration of young people into national and regional economic issues,” Mohadi affirmed.
“They are very clear on the role and support that must be given to young intellectuals, innovators, and changemakers, which also enables them to benefit from the AfCFTA,” he added.
In conclusion, Mohadi expressed his commitment to supporting youth and listening to their concerns. He also extended his gratitude to the European Union (EU), a key partner and contributor to the AfCFTA, for their unwavering commitment to fostering economic integration in alignment with the AfCFTA’s vision for a more interconnected African economy.
