Langa Mabena
Mbulelo Mpofu
IN a significant milestone for aspiring leaders, B-Metro reporter Blessing Karubwa has been chosen as one of 140 participants to take part at this year’s esteemed Cheetah Generation Amplifier Programme.
In 2024, Students for Liberty Movememnt announced the launch of the Cheetah Generation Amplifier Program – an initiative designed to educate and empower future leaders on key topics such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), free market principles, and the philosophies underpinning liberty and policy advocacy.
Students For Liberty Movement was introduced in 2013 as a way to educate, develop and empower the next generation of leaders of liberty.
The Cheetah Generation Amplifier Programme will convene this Friday at the Monomotapa Hotel in Harare, where participants will delve into policy advocacy, research, and a thorough understanding of the AfCFTA.
This landmark agreement aims to establish a single continental market for goods and services, enhance intra-African trade, and promote economic integration among African nations.
Involving 54 of the 55 African Union member states, the AfCFTA is poised to significantly boost trade among African nations, with projections indicating a potential increase in intra-African trade by over 50% by 2030.
Selected from seven African countries, the 140 participants were chosen for their demonstrated leadership capabilities.
Each nation is represented by 20 individuals, all of whom are committed to driving impactful social and economic change.
The 2025 cohort is characterised by its members’ strong advocacy for progressive reforms aligned with the AfCFTA.
In an interview, Karubwa who is a current MSc Diplomacy student, expressed his gratitude for this opportunity.
“Being selected for the Cheetah Generation Amplifier Programme is not just an honor; it’s a pivotal moment in my journey. I believe that this experience will serve as a launchpad for greater things to come, enabling me to contribute meaningfully to the discourse on liberty and economic empowerment in Africa.
“I am excited to learn from esteemed mentors and collaborate with fellow young leaders who share a vision of a freer, more prosperous continent,” said Karubwa.
The programme offers rigorous training in critical areas such as policy research and advocacy for free-market principles, equipping participants to articulate and promote innovative solutions to the complex challenges facing African economies.
Additionally, it fosters a vibrant network of like-minded individuals, providing invaluable mentorship and collaborative opportunities that extend beyond the programme itself.
Gracious Phiri, the Southern Africa Regional Coordinator for Students For Liberty Africa, emphasised the initiative’s significance, urging participants to engage actively in workshops and discussions.
“We are the largest pro-liberty student organisation in the world. Our mission is to educate, develop, and empower the next generation of leaders of liberty. We carefully select students and provide them with the leadership development training needed to become strong advocates of liberty. Our students go on to become leaders in their communities and seek to build a freer future,” Phiri stated.
The programme aims to empower participants to engage in policy research, advocate for reforms that promote free-market principles, and foster individual liberty.
By the end of the programme, those who would have attended are expected to research policy issues actively, promote reforms that champion free-market principles and the AfCFTA, and demonstrate a commitment to advancing libertarian values.
For Karubwa this transformative journey embodies the spirit of the Cheetah Generation Amplifier Programme – driven by a passion for change and a commitment to fostering a brighter, more equitable future for all.
His participation serves as an inspiration to aspiring leaders across Africa, reminding them that with the right tools and networks, they too can become powerful agents of transformation in their communities.
Bongani Ndlovu