Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Online Reporter
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire, has raised concerns over the erratic disbursement of funds to the Ministry during the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) period.
Minister Machakaire raised the concern during the Ministry’s five-year strategic planning workshop, which kicked off at a local hotel on Monday.
He said while some notable achievements were realised during NDS1, the Ministry must take note of the challenges it faced along the way, adding that those challenges must be embraced as learning points for future programming.
“During the NDS1 period, I noted the following key challenges that we need to seriously consider during this workshop. Disbursement of funds by the Treasury was often erratic, and we frequently received only half of the approved budget. This affected our performance and highlights the need to strengthen our capacity for resource mobilisation, both within and beyond government structures,” said Minister Machakaire.
He said his Ministry is one of the largest in government, yet the impact of its programmes has not been felt as strongly as it should. With a youth population of over four million, Minister Machakaire said the Ministry should be driving national transformation, and this calls for an innovative strategy.
He expressed concern that provincial and district structures were not adequately supported, both administratively and programmatically.
“Limited capacity, lack of stationery, and insufficient office furniture have compromised our operations. This workshop must come up with deliberate strategies to empower our provincial and district offices. It aims to chart our course for the second phase of the Second Republic’s vision of transforming Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income society by 2030, as it relates to our Ministry’s mandate,” said Minister Machakaire.
