Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
YOUTH Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire has challenged young people to advocate for the 2027 National Budget to include funding that enables them to establish their own businesses and contribute meaningfully to national development.
He made the remarks at the Youth Inclusive Budget Conference held at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden. The conference was organised by the Parliamentary Youth Caucus, the Zimbabwe Youth Council, the Zimbabwe Institute and development partners.
“As we prepare for the 2027 Budget, we must take the conversation further. We cannot continue to approach the Budget only with the question: ‘What can Government give young people?’
“We must also ask: ‘What can Government do to help young people build businesses that can grow, employ others and contribute to the national fiscus?’
“I challenge young people at this conference to come forward with practical proposals on how Government can support youth businesses to become sustainable.
“Government must provide an enabling environment, while young people bring innovation, enterprise, hard work and the willingness to take calculated risks,” he said.
Minister Machakaire said his ministry and the Zimbabwe Youth Council would help connect young people to opportunities and ensure that youth voices continue to inform national policy. He said young people should propose solutions on how Government can invest in youth enterprises in ways that generate employment, expand production and ultimately broaden the national tax base.
“If a Government-supported youth enterprise employs other young people, produces goods and services, grows its turnover and eventually pays taxes, then we have achieved something much greater than simply providing financial assistance. We have created an economic actor,” he said. Parliamentary Youth Caucus chairperson Cde Stanley Sakupwanya said it was important to incorporate youth voices into the national budgeting process.
“The Youth Inclusive Budget Conference is the third such platform hosted by the Parliamentary Youth Caucus.
“As provided for under Section 141 of the Constitution, Parliament is mandated to engage the public on all policy measures it seeks to implement.
“One of the most important policy instruments considered annually is the National Budget. Since we are now entering the Budget consultation period, we must recognise that young people are among the most affected, given that they constitute the largest demographic group. The Parliamentary Youth Caucus initiated the Youth Inclusive Budget Conference to gather the views of young people across all sectors and ministries,” he said.
