Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
AN empowerment programme, Zimbabwe Vision (ZimVi) 2030 implementors has partnered with different organisations and professionals in capacitating people with different skills country-wide.
ZimVI is offering skills training and financial literacy to the youths and people up to the age of 65.
The organisation is offering skills training in hotel and catering, baking, nurse aid, construction, graphic design, cartoon animation and forex trading courses.
Launched in February 2023, ZimVI has managed to capacitate about 3 400 people with a target of 7 000 across the country.
ZimVi is powered by a group of companies including Palm Bliss, Salcon Tech Hub, Blissful.events, CSSR, CEA, COH &S, Merc PRO, Nandytronix and Kelvin Forex Trading, who provide training in different courses.
The organisation’s founder and director, Mr Archibald Siziba, said some courses like construction are meant to assist youths so that they can be able to participate in tenders which are being brought by the massive infrastructure development in many parts of the country including the Matabeleland region.
He also said other courses will capacitate youths and elders with skills to start their own businesses as they work towards the attainment of Vision 2030 “leaving no one and no place behind”.
“We are moving with the President’s philosophy that Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo. So, we are capacitating everyone from six to 68 years with different life skills which has also seen especially ladies benefiting a lot as they are saying it has also helped in reducing domestic violence.
“We are seeing massive infrastructure development in many areas including the rehabilitation of roads in Matabeleland and through our construction courses, we are hoping that these youths will also benefit as well as contribute to the programmes,” said Mr Siziba.
Some of the beneficiaries said the programme has helped them not only to gain skills but also having a business mind which will see them starting up their enterprises as soon as they finish the course.
Ms Cynthia Dube (40) who is doing bakery said: “I have learnt a lot about baking, this will help me a lot as I won’t be waiting for the money from my husband but now I can do scones, cakes and buns and sell. I am now able to help my husband with other expenses and even if he loses his job or get sick I’m able to take care of our expenses.”
Some of the women who are into hotel and catering said, they have already secured two properties which they said everything is now in place to start hospitality business.
One of the women, Mrs Memory Ncube said: “Since we started this course we came up with many and different visions we didn’t have in the past. While we were learning, we found out that we have many opportunities in Bulawayo that we can grab and be able to make money.”
“We did theory and practicals and also how to manage businesses. We then looked for places to open our lodges and found three places and secured the deal with the owners and we are able to raise money for rentals, now we appeal for assistance from the Government so that we can be able to acquire other things like beds,” she said.
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