Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa yesterday handed over a fleet of vehicles to the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training in a development tailored to enhance operational efficiency, service delivery, programme implementation and youth engagement.
The handover ceremony, held at State House, saw the President delivering 35 of the 72 vehicles earmarked for the ministry.
Speaking after the handover, President Mnangagwa said the vehicles were part of Government’s commitment to ensuring that district officers carry out their duties effectively as the Second Republic continues to prioritise youth empowerment.
“We were assuring them (District Officers) that every district will have their own motor vehicle, but this is the first batch we have issued out for the purposes of mobility to facilitate their work as youths,” said the President.
Youth Empowerment Minister Tino Machakaire welcomed the handover, saying improved mobility would directly enhance youth-centred initiatives across districts.
He said the consignment represented major operational support for the newly established ministry.
“Firstly, I would like to thank His Excellency, the President, for making his effort in terms of developing the youth constituency,” said Minister Machakaire.
“These are the tools of trade that we were talking about last time, and I want to assure our fellow Zimbabweans that from now going forward, we are going to see a huge improvement in terms of youth programmes, youth initiatives, developing various programmes that are youth related.
Minister Machakaire said several youth-oriented programmes were lined up and would begin rolling out soon, including initiatives targeting drug and substance abuse.
“Because if you look at it, it’s a new ministry, but we did not have adequate tools of trade.
“But because of these cars that we have been given today, we are going to increase our programmes,” said the Minister.
“This is just the beginning. You are going to see a lot of programmes, especially in the NDS2 that is starting 2026 to 2030.
“This is our drive and we need to make sure that everyone is on board and that we are moving in the same direction to develop our youth, to destroy the issue of drugs and substance abuse,” he said.
Deputy Minister Kudakwashe Mupamhanga said the vehicles would allow district officers to reach young people in remote areas, identify talent, and provide necessary support.
“What has happened here is critical to our work, and it allows our district officers to have mobility, to be able to reach places within the country, and also to be able to facilitate them to identify young people who are talented, so they can be given support, and young people in need for engagement with their own ministry,” he said.
He underscored the importance of tapping into youth potential for national development.
Vehicles? Who can kindly advise our president that most of our clinics in rural Zimbabwe don’t even have bandages to dress wounds. I was in Zaka a week ago and at one clinic my aunt was asked to wash a soiled bandage for reuse. Let’s get our priorities right dear Zimbabwe.