Bulawayo hubs to benefit over 700 youths

Bongani Ndlovu/Sikhulekelani Moyo, Chronicle Reporters

MS Shamiso Mudzembwe fell pregnant at the age of 19 and had no clue what she would do to feed her child until she took up horticulture and now has a dream of employing other youths.

Ms Mudzembwe is part of the first batch of 87 youths that graduated yesterday from two hubs, one at Jairos Jiri Centre in Nguboyenja suburb and the other in Mabuthweni in Bulawayo.

The ceremony that was held at Jairos Jiri Centre was attended by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Dr Thokozile Chitepo. During the same ceremony, youth hubs were launched by Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) in partnership with Jairos Jiri, Bulawayo City Council (BCC) and other development agencies.

SNV is implementing the Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE) programme funded to the tune of US$5 million in 11 districts in Zimbabwe. SNV started the programme in 2019 which seeks to improve the livelihood and prospects of 10 000 out-of-school youths, among whom at least 50 percent are young women, by creating “green” employment and enterprise opportunities in agriculture, energy and other emerging sectors.

It is supported by the Embassy of Sweden and the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation.

The youth hubs launched in Bulawayo are funded to the tune of US$40 000 to cover training in poultry, mushroom farming, horticulture, rabbitry, fish farming, hydroponics farming, digital skills and permaculture.

More than 700 youths in Bulawayo are set to benefit from the youth hubs and there are 56 who are enrolled at the two institutions.

Ms Mudzembwe (22) who was with her two-year-old daughter said she needed the project as she did not know how to feed her child.

“Life was great and smooth before I had my child. I didn’t see; experience any struggles. Once I had the child, life became difficult. I realised that if I just sit and wait, my child would go hungry and I won’t be able to feed her,” said Ms Mudzembwe.

She said that is why she applied two years ago.

“Doing this project changed my life. I now have land that I can work on and do wonders. I know that if I put my head to it, I will make a lot of money. I want to also empower my fellow youths, who are unemployed,” she said.

Ms Mudzembwe said while growing up in Mpopoma, tilling the family garden with her grandmother gave her some form of training.

She said her training during the OYE programme sharpened her knowledge of horticulture.

“We learnt one-month theory and two months practical at Umvutsha, doing horticulture. I was the first person to go there because I was eager to do horticulture. I loved it. I didn’t learn it at school, but it was because of my grandmother whom I would help tend to rape or chomolia gardens when I was living with her in Mpopoma,” said Ms Mudzembwe.

She said she received training from Empretec in entrepreneurial skills and at Umvutsha Farm under the BCC in horticulture this year.

The three-month course ended with her volunteering at a plot in Burnside to further her skills in horticulture.

Ms Mudzembwe said it was during that time that she asked the plot manager for a portion so that she grows vegetables.

“I approached the manager of that land and asked for half a hectare to plant rape. He agreed and I approached Empretec they said I should draft a business proposal which is being vetted.

“We were given US$50 by Jairos Jiri and I took that money, bought seed, fertilisers and hired a tractor to till the land. I planted rape, okra and onion. I use drip irrigation that’s there. So far I have reaped from the rape, and I’m waiting for the ripening of the okra and onion,” said Ms Mudzembwe

In her speech during the official launch of the hubs, Dr Chitepo said youth hubs are significant in the national discourse as the nation endeavours to attain Vision 2030 goals of an empowered and prosperous upper middle-income society.

She said creating economic space for the youth and persons with disabilities is one of the key milestones to ensure no one is left behind.

“Zimbabwe has high youthful demography of about 65 percent of the total population, which requires the creation of projects that help them grow and be independent entrepreneurs. It should be noted that promoting youth entrepreneurship through the establishment of hubs is one of the strategies to address unemployment among our youth,” said Dr Chitepo.

“Government in partnership with development partners is directing its efforts in ensuring that youth are not just employment seekers but also employment creators through the creation of hubs, which nurtures them in that direction.”

Dr Chitepo said supporting youth entrepreneurs and people with disabilities will go a long way in enhancing the economy’s employment capacity.

Speaking at the same event, Jairos Jiri Association national president Dr Alva Senderayi said the model that has been set by SNV and the other partners for vocational training and skills development is also promoting industrial linkages for skills transfer, quality training enhancement and the creation of employment for vocational graduates.

In an interview, SNV Zimbabwe programmes officer Mr Cloffas Nyagumbo said they are working in partnership with Government departments and other stakeholders to make sure that the country attains its vision of becoming an upper middle-income economy in line with the National Development Strategy 1.

He said for the first cohort, Bulawayo hubs supported 87 youths through training and continues to offer them business development support services and the current cohort has 56 youths that are enrolled.