adminPost Correspondent
COMMUNITY Share Ownership Trusts should be set up in all communities with potential value addition projects and not in mining areas alone, the Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister, Cde Patrick Zhuwao, has said. Speaking at Magamba Vocational Training Centre’s 18th graduation ceremony where he commented the centre for spearheading the mango fruit value addition project in Mutasa, Cde Zhuwao said there was need to create CSOTs in Mutasa for the entire community to benefit.
“I will task the principal director in my ministry to immediately develop frameworks for VCTs and CSOTs in the National Economic Empowerment Strategy. “This is an important missing link in empowering our communities especially those not in mining areas. So in that light the communities in Mutasa that want to engage in this project should form their CSOT,” he said.
Magamba in partnership with IMM Earth through Riverbend Trust and Professor Rukudzo Murapa next year intend to process and package mango archer drink as well as paprika production as part of the institution’s drive to support the country’s food security and value addition component under Zim-Asset.
Cde Zhuwao said VCTs were important in the wake of a collapsing formal sector and the increasing number of school dropouts and college graduates. He said it was sad that the majority of youths who failed to proceed after failing Ordinary Level examinations were opting for greener pastures beyond the borders.
“VCTs are going to play a pivotal role in the execution of the NEES as hubs and nucleus of economic empowerment. “Training programmes are going to be realigned and will be based on economic opportunities in each ward making it imperative that there be a VCT in every ward in line with the NEES that the ministry is developing,” he said.
Cde Zhuwao also advised graduands to make use of Localised Empowerment Accelerated Facility, a credit facility provision for credible indigenous youths with projects as well as the Youth Development and Employment Creation Fund which is a revolving fund.
Magamba VCT principal, Mr Isaiah Sabwe, said vocational skills were changing lives. He urged the graduands to put to good use the skills they would have acquired.
“Today marks the day you have been transformed into responsible citizens who can stand on their own and become masters of their own destiny. I say go out there and be game changers by starting your own businesses and create employment for yourselves and those who want to work for others,” said Mr Sabwe.
A total of 178 students graduated in various courses. Of the 178, 152 were males and 26 females, while 109 students completed the conventional two-year courses, with 69 students graduating in short courses that range from one to three months.
Online Reporter