Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze, [email protected]
A GROUP of 20 youths from Tsholotsho District in Matabeleland North are undergoing a transformative journey, acquiring practical, income-generating skills through a partnership between Tsholotsho Makerspace and Tsholotsho Vocational Training Centre.
The initiative dovetails with the Government’s rural industrialisation drive, aligning with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises value addition, innovation hubs and the establishment of rural-based industries to stimulate inclusive economic growth.
Through this framework, anchored on the devolution agenda, the Second Republic is promoting community production centres, strengthening vocational training institutions and supporting small-scale enterprises to ensure economic activity is rooted in rural communities.
At Tsholotsho Makerspace, the focus is on equipping youths with hands-on skills that translate into real economic opportunities. Participants are being trained to manufacture products, launch small businesses and actively contribute to Zimbabwe’s value chains.
The impact of the initiative is already gaining national visibility. The makerspace recently showcased its work at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), exhibiting products ranging from leather goods and soap to apiculture-based outputs.
Tsholotsho Makerspace chairperson, Miss Almita Mlalazi, said the programme seeks to move beyond basic training to full participation in production and enterprise development.
“Our students are undergoing intensive training in areas such as leather processing, where they are making shoes. This value chain approach not only equips them with practical skills but also prepares them to participate meaningfully in the workforce,” she said.
Miss Mlalazi said the initiative is opening pathways for employment, entrepreneurship and broader local economic growth.
Beyond manufacturing, the makerspace is also embracing sustainable and climate-smart solutions. One such innovation is solar drying, which is being used to preserve vegetables such as cabbage and tomatoes, thus addressing post-harvest losses that are common in rural communities due to limited storage facilities.
“With the sun as a readily available energy source, we are introducing communities to efficient methods of drying produce, extending shelf life, reducing waste and creating additional income streams,” said Miss Mlalazi.
Digital skills are also being integrated into the training programme, with participants learning basic computer literacy, including branding, logo design and business card creation, which are essential tools for modern entrepreneurship.
“We are preparing our youths not just to produce, but to package and market their products professionally,” she said.
Miss Mlalazi said the initiative is rooted in the realisation that youths are central to the country’s economic future.
“Youths make up a significant portion of the population. As a community, we saw the need to create opportunities for ourselves through skills development and entrepreneurship,” she said.
In addition to manufacturing and digital skills, participants are also venturing into agribusiness, particularly beekeeping, where they are learning honey production as part of diversifying income streams.
With its blend of technical training, innovation and enterprise development, the Tsholotsho Makerspace is emerging as a model for rural empowerment, which is turning skills into sustainable livelihoods and positioning young people at the forefront of Zimbabwe’s industrialisation drive.
Peter Tanyanyiwa