Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, Sunday News Reporter
YOUNG Zimbabweans have been encouraged to take advantage of youth empowerment funding opportunities being offered by Government while remaining vigilant against fraudsters masquerading as ministry officials and agents.
Speaking in an interview, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training’s Director of Communication and Advocacy, Mr Ranson Madzamba said young entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners aged below 35 years should approach official Government structures for assistance in accessing empowerment funding.
He said ministry officials stationed at district, provincial and national offices were available to guide young people through the application process and provide information on available funding opportunities.
“To all the young entrepreneurs and also to all those who would want to be young entrepreneurs, I am talking of those young people who are below the age of 35 years. They are free to visit our offices at district, provincial and national level and they are people who are ready to help them out on how best they can access these funds. They are also free to visit our EmpowerBank branches,” said Mr Madzamba.
“Definitely they will be assisted.”
Mr Madzamba, however, warned young people to be on high alert for fraudsters who are circulating misleading information and falsely claiming to represent the ministry or EmpowerBank.
He said the ministry had become aware of individuals distributing flyers and presenting themselves as agents or messengers of the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training or EmpowerBank in an effort to defraud unsuspecting youths.
“On another note, we would want the young people to be vigilant. They are supposed to have their eyes open because there are some fraudsters who are now flighting various flyers purporting to be messengers if not agents of the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training as well as the EmpowerBank,” he said.
Mr Madzamba urged young people to verify all information through official channels and to seek assistance directly from ministry offices or EmpowerBank branches.
“Please, please take note. As a ministry, we are available at every district, at every province and feel free to be helped at our offices. Feel free as well to be helped at our EmpowerBank branches,” he said.
Government has in recent years intensified efforts to promote youth entrepreneurship and economic empowerment through funding initiatives, vocational training programmes and support for youth-led enterprises aimed at improving livelihoods and creating employment opportunities.
Bongani Ndlovu