Online Reporter
Tendai Gukutikwa
Health Reporter
THE Government is intensifying efforts to combat drug and substance abuse through vocational skills development, entrepreneurship and digital empowerment programmes aimed at steering young people towards productive and sustainable livelihoods.
Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister, Honourable Tino Machakaire, said equipping young people with practical skills and economic opportunities is one of the most effective ways of shielding them from the growing menace of drug and substance abuse.
Speaking at the Third Annual Manicaland Vocational Training Centres Graduation Ceremony held at Magamba Vocational Training Centre last week, Minister Machakaire said Government is transforming vocational training institutions into centres of excellence that nurture not only technical skills, but also responsible, innovative and economically active citizens.
He said skills development has become a key pillar in Government’s strategy to empower young people and provide meaningful alternatives to harmful behaviours.
“Skills development provides young people with an avenue to economically emancipate themselves and escape the drug-abuse menace.
“Youth empowerment must go beyond the issuance of certificates. It should enable young people to establish businesses, generate income and participate meaningfully in the economy,” said Minister Machakaire.
He said vocational training equips young people with the tools needed to become self-reliant and productive members of society.
“Skills development is not only about preparing young people for employment. It is about giving them the capacity to become productive, self-reliant and economically active citizens. By equipping our young people with practical skills and creating pathways into enterprise, we are helping them build a future founded on hard work, innovation and entrepreneurship rather than activities that can destroy their lives,” he said.
Minister Machakaire added that a skilled and economically engaged youth population is more likely to resist the temptations associated with drug and substance abuse.
“A youth who is skilled and productively occupied will have little time to engage in drug and substance abuse,” he said.
He said Government’s youth empowerment agenda is anchored on three key pillars: skills development, enterprise development and digitalisation.
“Skills are the foundation, enterprise is the engine, and digitalisation is the accelerator. Together, these pillars position our young people to become job creators, innovators and active participants in Zimbabwe’s economic transformation,” said Minister Machakaire.
He stressed the need for vocational training centres to evolve in response to changing economic realities and labour market demands.
“Our vocational training centres must become institutions that produce competent, innovative and entrepreneurial citizens capable of creating value, generating employment and contributing to national development,” he said.
Minister Machakaire said the fight against drug and substance abuse requires more than awareness campaigns and warnings.
Young people, he said, need access to opportunities that provide purpose, hope and a meaningful stake in their communities and the economy.
“Government is committed to creating pathways that keep young people engaged in productive activities. Skills development, entrepreneurship, sport and other structured youth programmes provide positive alternatives and help young people resist the dangers associated with drug and substance abuse,” he said.
He added that vocational training should be viewed as part of a broader youth development strategy focused on economic empowerment, social inclusion and responsible citizenship.
“Vocational training and skills development must contribute not only to employability, but also to building disciplined, productive and responsible young people capable of making healthy choices and contributing positively to their communities,” he said.
Minister Machakaire also underscored the growing importance of digitalisation in empowering young entrepreneurs, saying technology offers new opportunities for business growth and market access.
“Our young entrepreneurs must be able to market their products through digital platforms, communicate with customers electronically, manage business records digitally, access financial services and utilise digital payment systems,” he said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, echoed the sentiments, saying practical skills development remains one of the most effective tools for keeping young people engaged and away from social ills.
“This platform provides young people with an opportunity to network, exchange ideas and establish partnerships that can unlock opportunities that remain largely unexplored.
“Youth empowerment should be viewed broadly, with skills development helping young people build confidence, independence and the economic capacity to make positive life choices, including rejecting drug and substance abuse,” said Minister Mugadza.
The emphasis on vocational training and youth empowerment comes as the Government continues to strengthen efforts to tackle drug and substance abuse through sustainable interventions that equip young people with the skills, opportunities and support needed to build brighter futures.
