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President Mnangagwa has arrived at the Harare Agricultural Showgrounds for the National Youth Symposium where he will launch the National Youth Empowerment Strategy.
This marks a major step in aligning youth development initiatives.
The National Youth Strategy will be the roadmap for structured youth development programmes and coordination in Zimbabwe.
The symposium, which started yesterday, is running under the theme ‘Empower the youth, secure the future’.
Currently President Mnangagwa and other dignitaries are in the briefing room.
After the briefing, the President is expected tour tour exhibition stands at the Glamis Arena.
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Stategic direction for the youth
The launch of the National Youth Symposium by President Mnangagwa at the Harare Agriculture Showground today gives impetus to Government’s commitment to uplift the life of young people.
President Mnangagwa is expected to deliver the keynote address.
The symposium is running under the theme ‘Empower the youth, secure the future’ and it cements Government’s thrust to make youth an integral part of national development, anchored by the Second Republic’s Heritage Based Education 5. 0.
Several young people have already taken their seats as they eagerly wait for the arrival of President Mnangagwa to deliver strategic direction.
President Mnangagwa tours exhibition stands
President Mnangagwa is accompanied by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Harare Metropolitan Province Minister, Senator Charles Tawengwa, Youth Empowerment Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire and his Deputy Kudakwashe Mupamhanga, Agriculture Minister Dr Anxious Masuka and ICT Minister Tatenda Mavetera.
Talent under spotlight
Minister Machekaire is taking the President around the stands to showcase young people’s talent.
They visited a stand were youths made the President’s potrait using beads.
They also visited a stand for people with disabilities who are defying all odds in the manufacturing industry.
They make dishwashers, washing powder and multi-purpose bleach.
They then moved to the the Young Africa stand where student made an automated irrigation system.
Milestones in youth empowerment
Government has made several milestones in empowering the youth as it seeks to ensure that young people are masters of their own destiny.
Some of the achievements include the creation of a youth quota in Parliament, with ten seats reserved for them.
Several young people have been appointed to be either Cabinet Ministers or Deputy Ministers.
The Second Republic, led by President Mnangagwa, has also reintroduced the National Youth Service and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training is pushing for the prioritisation of the recruitment of graduates from the programme in the public sector.
Deliberate effort are being made to ensure that youths participate in various sectors of the economy.
Official programme kicks off
President Mnangagwa has now arrived at the main auditorium of the National Youth Symposium, ready to officially launch the Symposium and provide strategic direction to young people.
Cabinet Ministers and Senior Government officials are accompanying him.
The youths attending are drawn from different spheres, including politics and various economic sectors, among others.
In his welcome remarks, the Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Province, Senator Charles Tawengwa said the President is deeply committed to uplifting the youths.
He said the youths are not just tomorrow’s leaders but also leaders of the present.
He said Harare carries the burden of carrying much of the youths, hence Government and Development partners must collaborate and come up initiatives to uplift them.
‘Youths are participants in economic development, not just bystanders’
The Zimbabwe Youth Council Chairperson, Mrs Rutendo Mugwagwa commended the Government for several efforts to empower the youth.
“The symposium is testimony of what happens when young people are supported. We have miners, farmers and Vision 2030 can be achieved,” said Mrs Mugwagwa.
She described the youth symposium as a declaration of intent, adding that youths are participants in economic development, not just by standers.
She said the youth symposium was not just youth-driven but youth-informed.
“This strategy recognises that youth empowerment is not an event but a process. We want to commend our parent ministry for it’s role in youth empowerment. Empowering youth is an investment,” said Mrs Mugwagwa
UN applauds Second Republic
United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ambassador Kallon thanked President Mnangagwa for his commitment to reducing teenage pregnancies, child marriages and drug use, among other vices.
“On behalf of the United Nations in Zimbabwe, I would like to sincerely congratulate His Excellency, President Mnangagwa and his administration for their growing commitment to youth empowerment and to tackling issues that disproportionately affect young people, including drugs and substance abuse, child marriages and teenage pregnancy,” he said.
Ambassador Kallon said Zimbabwe’s young people represent a democratic world.
He added that they are the foundation for the nation’s development.
“Their energy, creativity, and innovation are critical to tackling Zimbabwe’s socio-economic challenges and achieving sustainable development goals.”
Members of the National youth service are also present
‘Strategy represents voices of young people’
An agronomic engineer, Ms Nancy Musa gave an overview of the National Youth Strategy 2026 to 2030.
She said the strategy represents the voices of young people and addresses their needs.
“We actively participated in its early development, and it was formulated through collective efforts and broad consultation involving Government departments, ministries, agencies, the private sector, and development partners,” said Ms Musa.
She said the strategy seeks to achieve three key shifts, where one leaps from unemployment to productivity, exclusion to inclusion, dependency to innovation.
Ms Musa said the strategy is built upon five main pillars and is supported by two cross-cutting pillars.
The pillars are economic development,technology and digital transformation, education and skills development, governance and participation, as well as health and well-being.
Youth Minister Tino Machakaire introduces President
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President highlights youth’s role in national development
President Mnangagwa has described the country’s youth as valuable national assets that should be guided by the ideology that the nation is built by its own people.
He said this today while delivering a keynote address during the official launch of the National Youth Symposium in Harare.
The President also launched the National Youth Empowerment Strategy, a roadmap for structured youth development programmes.
“Your innovative ideas and boundless energy are good to propel our nation forward. As youth of our country, you are valuable national assets. The various projects being implemented will continue to be harnessed to help the youth, leaving no place and no one behind,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said the symposium helped to highlight young people’s immense talent.
“A network such as this one must provide you with requisite information so that you can access Government and development partners. As you chart your path, I challenge you to be always guided by our national development philosophy that nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” he said.
The President also commended businesses and other stakeholders who participated in the symposium.
“I commend every organisation for participating in this event. These synergies must be nurtured for accelerated development. The cross pollination of ideas and outcomes of our conversation must reach every corner.
“I call upon Youth Minister Machakaure to disseminate information to grassroots level,” said President Mnangagwa.
He said building a sustainable future requires a collaborative approach to promote entrepreneurship.
