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Liberty Dube
Post Correspondent
GOVERNMENT is currently seized with the fight against drug and substance abuse that is threatening the future of the youths and has scaled up efforts to curb the scourge by providing youths with skills as a means to economically emancipate them.
Speaking at the inaugural Manicaland Vocational Training Centres graduation ceremony that saw students from the province’s eight VTCs graduating at Magamba Vocational Training Centre yesterday, the Minister of Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire said vocational training and skills development is one of the youth development and empowerment strategies that his Ministry is pursuing as an integral cog to Zimbabwe’s industrial development agenda.
The graduation ceremony was held under the theme, ‘Vocational training and skills development, the weapon in the fight against drug and substance abuse by 2030’.
“Government is currently seized with the fight against drug and substance abuse that is threatening the future of our youth. It is, however, good to note that the Government has scaled up the fight against drug and substance abuse through the creation of the National Committee on the elimination of drug and substance abuse, as well as a technical committee to strategise, coordinate and implement programs to control the problem.
“It is against this background that I am happy to be leading a Ministry responsible for the demand reduction for drug and substance abuse through providing youths with skills as a means to economically emancipate them and more importantly to escape this drug abuse menace,” said Minister Machakaire.
He added: “Vocational training and skills development is one of the youth development and empowerment strategies that my Ministry is pursuing as an integral cog in Zimbabwe’s industrial development agenda.
“Under National Development Strategy 1, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training contributes to two priority areas, the first one being youth and culture, while the second is human capital development.”
A total of 1 501 graduands were capped after completing diplomas in various fields such as Agriculture, Motor Mechanics, Hotel and Catering, Carpentry and Joinery, Clothing Technology, Plumbing, Brick and Block Laying, Metal Fabrication and Welding.
Manicaland has a total of eight physical vocational training centres and another one that operates online.
These vocational training centres are strategically located across the province.
Makoni will soon have its own vocational training centre as soon as a suitable site is identified.
Speaking at the ceremony, Acting Provincial Centre head, Mr Rexmore Chisunga said: “Although hamstrung by financial challenges, our VTCS have managed to improve their infrastructure and purchase tools and equipment to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
“Let me pay tribute to the graduates for persevering to complete their studies despite the hardships they faced along the way. We believe that the provision of skills is the first form of empowerment that has to be followed by the establishment of small businesses.
“The graduates are potential entrepreneurs who, if properly nurtured and capacitated through our financial institutions, will run successful business ventures.
“If we do that as a country, they will create their own employment and we would have extricated them from the cruel jaws of drug and substance abuse.”
Online Reporter