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Mutsawashe Mashandure
Herald Correspondent
President Mnangagwa will join the youth in commemorating Africa Youth Day on November 22, Youth Empowerment, Development, and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire has said.
Speaking during a press conference in Harare yesterday, Minister Machakaire said the commemorations would provide a platform for the youth to dialogue with the President.
The celebrations will be attended by youths drawn from all the country’s 10 provinces.
The Africa Youth Day celebration theme will be in tandem with Agenda 2063’s Aspiration 6: to promote people-driven development, specifically relying on the youth.
The Minister said the Government will continue making efforts to increase youth participation in decision-making processes.
“I am saying the Ministry will ensure the improvement of youth participation in the decision-making process through the establishment of special youth economic zones, digital skills training programmes, intensifying training with production, financially supporting youth businesses, establishing work spaces for youth businesses, and establishing youth volunteer corps,” he said.
Minister Machakaire said the Second Republic was also committed to addressing various issues affecting the youth.
“Our programming on youth development should therefore now focus on interventions that impact positively on the livelihoods of young people, job creation, and industrial growth.
“Young people must be placed at the centre of all national development and decision-making strategies.
“We must come up with solutions that will make youth appreciate their ministry. We want to see young people in our structures, and we need platforms for young people to bring out issues and their ideas,” he said.
In a statement the African Union said young people had an important role to play in the development of their respective countries and continent at large.
“For this reason, I am imploring each one of you to grow, explore your potential and recognise the power you hold, through available opportunities, to advance the development of the continent,” the African Union said.
Neville Mavhu, the Child president, said the Government had introduced facilities to benefit the youth.
“We are going to make a plea to the Government to increase the budget of the Empowerment Bank so that youths can fund projects and self-employ,” he said.
He also urged the youth to desist from drug and substance abuse and instead be innovative and development-oriented.
“For the youth, there is an issue of drug abuse that is affecting Zimbabwe, as we all know that drug and substance abuse is affecting the whole country. I just want to encourage the youth to come up with innovative ideas. We applaud His Excellence President Mnangagwa for the committee that is working to stop drug abuse by arresting drug suppliers,” he added.
Another young person Tendai Mapamba implored the youth not to leave the country, but build it.
“As youth, we should build our country by doing some projects, keeping in mind that Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, a guiding philosophy espoused by President Mnangagwa.
Online Reporter