Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, [email protected]
THE Government, through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, has opened a new Vocational Training Centre (VTC) in Beitbridge to equip youths in the border town with practical, market-driven skills aimed at reducing unemployment and promoting entrepreneurship.
The new facility is expected to broaden access to technical and vocational education in a district that has historically relied on a single training institution.
Acting head of the ministry in Beitbridge District, Mr Stanley Moyo, announced the development yesterday.
Mr Moyo said the ministry had already been allocated land by the council for the construction of the VTC, while enrolment for the first intake of students was presently underway.
“The vocational training centre will initially offer short courses as we work towards establishing a fully-fledged facility. Enrolment is already in progress and training will commence soon,” he said.
Mr Moyo added that the centre will, for now, operate from the ministry’s district offices while awaiting construction of the training centre.
The VTC will initially run three-month short courses, with plans to expand once additional resources and teaching space become available.
At the moment, Beitbridge District relies mainly on the Roman Catholic-run vocational training centre at Lutumba Growth Point, about 20 kilometres north of the border town, limiting access for many young people, particularly those from remote areas.
Vocational training centres are Government-managed institutions designed to equip youths with practical, employment-oriented skills in areas such as agriculture, carpentry, plumbing, building and information technology. They play a critical role in bridging the gap between formal education and the labour market, especially in rural and underserved communities.
VTC principal Ms Anna Chiriseri said initial training programmes were informed by a needs assessment carried out in the district.
“From our research, indications are that we should start with short courses in catering, solar installation, motor mechanics, electrical power engineering, cosmetology, plumbing and building,” she said.
Ms Chiriseri said the centre will also introduce outreach programmes to ensure that youths in distant parts of the district are not left out.
“We are also going to conduct outreach training in areas far from town so that we impart knowledge and skills to everyone who is interested across the district,” she said.
“Our first classes will start in March, and we are hopeful that more resources will soon be availed to begin civil works at the site allocated to us by council.”
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ) is exploring modalities to establish its own vocational training centre at Zezani area, about 135 kilometres west of Beitbridge town.
