Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
THE Government is carrying out a registration and training needs assessment for young Zimbabweans returning from South Africa as part of efforts to facilitate their reintegration and link them to youth empowerment opportunities across the country.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Mr Solomon Mhlanga, revealed this on the sidelines of the ministry’s senior management workshop held in Mutare last Friday.
Mr Mhlanga said the exercise was designed to identify the skills, qualifications and support needs of returning youths so that they can be effectively incorporated into existing Government programmes aimed at enhancing livelihoods and economic participation.
“Currently, the registration and training needs analysis is being undertaken as youth returnees enter the country.
“The ministry has recognised the importance of reintegrating young Zimbabweans returning from South Africa, and is doing so through existing youth empowerment programmes,” he said.
He explained that returning youths are eligible to participate in the same development and empowerment initiatives available to other young Zimbabweans, provided they satisfy the relevant criteria.
“Young returnees are generally eligible to participate in the same youth programmes as their local counterparts, subject to meeting the prescribed requirements,” said Mr Mhlanga.
Among the programmes available are the Youth Service in Zimbabwe, vocational skills training and access to funding for youth-led enterprises.
Mr Mhlanga said participation in the Youth Service programme will help returning youths reconnect with their communities while creating valuable social and professional networks.
He added that the country’s vocational training centres offer opportunities for returnees to acquire new skills or upgrade existing competencies, thereby improving their prospects for employment or self-employment.
“Eligible young returnees with viable business proposals can also access support through the Youth Empowerment Fund to establish or expand income-generating projects and facilitate their economic reintegration,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe is preparing a bid to host the 2027 YouthConnekt Africa Summit, one of the continent’s premier youth development platforms.
Mr Mhlanga said the proposed bid reflects Zimbabwe’s growing commitment to youth empowerment and its readiness to host a major continental gathering dedicated to entrepreneurship, innovation, skills development and employment creation.
YouthConnekt Africa was launched by the Government of Rwanda in 2012, and has since evolved into a continent-wide initiative supported by the African Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), development partners and African governments.
The platform connects young people to economic opportunities, innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship support, mentorship programmes, financial inclusion initiatives and policy dialogue forums.
Its flagship event, the YouthConnekt Africa Summit, brings together youth leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, development partners, academics and private sector players from across Africa.
The annual summit provides a platform for showcasing innovation, sharing best practices, forging partnerships and advancing youth-centred development policies.
“Zimbabwe has been an active participant in YouthConnekt Africa initiatives and has consistently demonstrated its commitment to youth empowerment. Government continues to implement various programmes guided by the Constitution, Vision 2030, National Development Strategy (NDS2), the National Youth Policy (2026-2030) and the National Youth Empowerment Strategy (2026-2030),” said Mr Mhlanga.
He said hosting the summit will provide Zimbabwe with a valuable opportunity to showcase its youth development achievements while strengthening regional and continental cooperation.
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Since 2024, the YouthConnekt Africa Secretariat has adopted a competitive bidding process for selecting host nations, a move intended to promote transparency and fairness.
Mr Mhlanga said hosting the 2027 summit will position Zimbabwe as a continental leader in youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, innovation and skills development.
The event is expected to attract more than 6 000 delegates from across Africa and beyond, including Heads of State and Government, ministers responsible for youth affairs, development partners, investors, academics and young entrepreneurs.
“Hosting the summit will stimulate economic activity through increased demand in tourism, hospitality, transport, trade and other service sectors associated with a major continental event,” he said.
He added that the summit will enhance Zimbabwe’s international profile while strengthening diplomatic and development cooperation with other African countries and development partners.
Mr Mhlanga said the gathering aligns with Government priorities under NDS2, particularly in areas such as youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, job creation, the creative economy, sport and culture.
The summit will also create significant opportunities for local young people by connecting them to continental and international networks.
Participants will be able to engage potential investors, showcase youth-led businesses and innovations, access mentorship and business development support, and strengthen their participation in regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Mr Mhlanga said hosting the Summit will accelerate the implementation of the National Youth Policy (2026-2030) by attracting investment into youth-led enterprises and creating greater visibility for the country’s flagship empowerment programmes.
“Hosting the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2027 presents a strategic opportunity for Zimbabwe to promote tourism, strengthen its international image, attract investment, deepen continental partnerships and demonstrate its commitment to youth empowerment while contributing towards the attainment of Vision 2030,” he said.
