Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
IN a major boost for agricultural development and youth empowerment, the Government has handed over tractors and farming equipment to young farmers in the Midlands Province under the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme.
The consignment, presented by the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, included eight tractors, two disc ploughs, seven boom sprays, three planters, six disc harrows and one trailer. The equipment was handed to the first batch of eight young beneficiaries as they prepare for the summer cropping season.
The Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme is aimed at giving young people opportunities in various sectors, with agriculture at the forefront, to drive economic growth and sustainable development.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Minister Ncube emphasised the importance of agriculture to the country’s economic stability and food security.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and we need to ensure that we are producing enough food to feed our nation. This handover ceremony marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme in the Midlands Province,” he said.
The minister urged the beneficiaries to make full use of the equipment to boost production during the cropping season, stressing that mechanisation is key to transforming agriculture and uplifting rural livelihoods.
Minister Ncube said the initiative reflects the Second Republic’s commitment to agricultural mechanisation, agro-processing, employment creation and the Rural Development 8.0 model, all aimed at restoring Zimbabwe’s status as the region’s breadbasket in line with Vision 2030.
“I dedicate this special day to our young people who are the torchbearers and the vanguard of our country’s independence. This programme marks progress in our collective journey towards empowering marginalised rural communities,” he said.
Minister Ncube commended President Mnangagwa for spearheading youth-centred initiatives, which he said align with Vision 2030 and international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“These initiatives support SDG 1 on No Poverty and SDG 8, which focuses on decent work and economic growth. They demonstrate how empowering youths contributes directly to sustainable livelihoods and inclusive growth,” he said.
He added that the Government will continue rolling out youth empowerment programmes across all sectors, highlighting the role of private sector partnerships and international allies such as Belarus and China in supporting agricultural mechanisation and boosting provincial GDP.
Minister Ncube also linked the handover to broader national initiatives, saying the new equipment must contribute to increased grain output following the commissioning of the 56 000-tonne grain silos in Kwekwe, with more silos planned for other districts.
“I urge all youths to remain vigilant and explore economic opportunities across sectors for the socio-economic growth of the nation,” he said.
The young farmers who received the equipment expressed appreciation, pledging to increase productivity and contribute to food security.
Zanu-PF Midlands Youth League chairperson, Cde Ernest Dzoro, said the gesture was proof of President Mnangagwa’s commitment to empowering the youth.
“We are grateful to our principal for standing with us. When President Mnangagwa promised to empower youths, some doubted, but today we are witnessing progress. Unlike in the past, we are being given opportunities to be part of economic growth. As the vanguard of the nation, we must be active in driving development,” he said.
