Online Reporter
Beitbridge Bureau
THE construction of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Youth Service in Zimbabwe (YSZ) and Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in Kezi, in Matobo District, is now 85 percent complete, marking a significant milestone in the Government’s efforts to equip young people with practical skills.
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire, told Cabinet this week that the project is among the Government’s top priority initiatives.
Once completed, the centre is expected to serve as a key hub for vocational training and youth empowerment, offering courses in trades such as carpentry, welding, agriculture and information technology.
The facility will also include accommodation and recreational spaces to cater for trainees drawn from across the province.
Minister Machakaire said the centre forms part of a broader Government strategy aimed at decentralising skills training and expanding opportunities for young people in rural areas.
The centre is named after the late Vice President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and is intended to uphold his legacy of youth development and nation-building.
The VTC and YSZ is one of the major Independence Legacy Projects in the province and is expected to accommodate up to 2 000 trainees, making it one of the largest vocational training centres in Zimbabwe.
The Deputy Director for Matabeleland South in the Ministry, Mrs Mavhonani Muleya, recently said the facility will enrol youths from across the country, with Matabeleland South set to benefit significantly due to its location.
“This centre will play a crucial role in equipping young people with practical skills, promoting entrepreneurship, and enhancing employment opportunities,” she said.
The impact of the VTC and YSZ is expected to be far-reaching.
Current estimates indicate that over 45 000 youths from Matabeleland South — approximately 35 percent of the province’s young population — have migrated to South Africa in search of employment.
However, with the establishment of the new training centre, 2,000 youths are expected to be trained annually, with more than 10,000 projected to benefit within the first five years. Around 6 000 graduates (60 percent) are anticipated to secure employment or start businesses locally, while youth migration could decline by up to 25 percent as local opportunities improve.
The project is aligned with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, both of which prioritise youth empowerment, industrialisation and economic growth.
By equipping young people with technical skills and linking them to key sectors such as mining, the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo VTC is expected to strengthen local industries, promote entrepreneurship and innovation, reduce unemployment, and contribute to Zimbabwe’s goal of attaining an upper-middle-income economy.
