Online Reporter
Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
WHILE young people are debating whether Arsenal will retain the English Premier League trophy, whether Spain truly deserved to win the World Cup, or if French forward Kylian Mbappe is worth his price tag, economic empowerment opportunities being availed by Government are passing them by with very few takers.
This is how our youth are counting ripples on a pond, focusing on what will not change their lives for the better, while crucial opportunities are presented daily. Sadly, they end up blaming the same Government that is availing opportunities they have failed to capitalise on.
One think tank once said: “Our greatest regrets in life tend not to be the things we did wrong or failed to achieve; but rather the missed opportunities or things we didn’t do that we wish we had”.
Indeed, nothing is worse than missing an opportunity that could have changed one’s life for the better. Missing an opportunity for lack of courage hurts far more than having tried and failed.
This is the unfortunate situation facing many youths across the country as Government’s empowerment initiatives are being rolled out. As is always the case, missed opportunities show how chance can look like hard work, fade quickly, or leave deep regret.
A fortnight ago, Government, through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, launched a US$1m Empower Bank facility for Manicaland youths’ income-generating projects, with the initial US$100 000 already being disbursed.
The revolving fund, aimed at increasing youth participation in the economy, was launched by President Mnangagwa, with each province receiving its share.
True to the resolutions of the ruling ZANU PF party’s 2025 conference held in Mutare, where a commitment was made to reserve US$10 million for youth empowerment countrywide, the funds are now being released in batches.
Speaking during the launch in Manicaland, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tinomuda Machakaire, said: “Government has committed US$1 million to this initiative, with US$100 000 allocated to Manicaland Province during this initial phase. These affordable loans, administered through Empower Bank, will provide young entrepreneurs with the opportunity to establish businesses, expand existing enterprises, create employment and contribute meaningfully to Zimbabwe’s economic growth. Our responsibility as Government is to ensure that circumstance never determines destiny. Every young Zimbabwean deserves the opportunity to succeed through honest work, innovation and enterprise.”
Empower Bank board chairperson, Mr William Chaitezvi, said: “We are strengthening our digital platforms to make our products more accessible, simplifying application processes, improving turnaround times for loan assessments, expanding financial literacy programmes, and increasing our outreach into communities so that no young person is excluded because of geography or lack of information. We are also developing youth-centric financial solutions that respond to the diverse needs of young entrepreneurs from start-up businesses requiring seed capital to growing enterprises seeking expansion finance.
“Our vision is to have “An economically empowered youth by 2030”. We aspire to be a trusted development partner that walks alongside young people throughout their entrepreneurial journey so that we achieve Vision 2030.”
In a world where many have eyes but cannot see and ears but cannot hear, thank heavens a few will take heed.
Mr Raymond Nyamuzinga, of Fern Valley, Mutare has the Empower Bank Youth Empowerment Fund to thank for the start-up and growth of his poultry business. The progressive youth is now setting his sights on becoming Manicaland’s first day-old broiler and road runner chicks merchant.
“Yes, the vision to expand to become a day-old chicks producer is there. There are two ways that I can achieve that. One is to continue with the current broiler and egg production project and saving for the major investment in broiler day-old chicks production. The other way, which is shorter, is to get a bank loan with low interest rate. They also provide asset funding where they actually buy the asset for me. I can start with just a thousand mother hens. Subsequently, I would be having about 900 eggs that I place in the hatchery. That can even allow me to sell the chicks at US$0.80 cents each. It becomes much easy when you get that kind of support,” he said.
On the actual production of day-old chicks, Mr Nyamuzinga said: “The machine that is needed is called automatic vaccination machine as well as the automatic de-beaking machine. For the day-olds, since there would be about 10 000 chicks one cannot do it manually one-by-one. So this is when the machine comes into use. We have macress, Newcastle and infectious bronchitis, which are the major vaccinations needed. The automatic vaccination and de-beaking machine that hits about 5 000 birds per hour costs about US$35 000 in China.”
“Macress” refers to the Massachusetts (Mass) serotype of Infectious Bronchitis virus, commonly combined with the B1 strain of Newcastle Disease vaccine (often labelled as “Newcastle-Bronchitis” or “ND+IB” vaccine) to protect poultry against both viral respiratory infections.
Minister Machakaire called for an all-inclusive approach to youth empowerment.
“Government alone cannot transform the economy. Youth empowerment requires strong partnerships between Government, financial institutions, development partners, local authorities, the private sector and communities. Allow me, therefore, to sincerely commend Empower Bank for remaining a dependable partner in advancing youth entrepreneurship through accessible and youth-friendly financial services. Together, we must continue to create an environment where young farmers, innovators, artisans, manufacturers, creatives, and technology entrepreneurs can thrive,” he said.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, urged young people in Manicaland to take advantage of the life-changing facility.
“No community should be excluded. No deserving young person should miss out because of lack of information or inadequate support. Inclusivity in the development agenda should bind us all as espoused by His Excellency, the President, Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, going forward to achieve the national Vision 2030,” said Minister Mugadza.
Mr Chaitezvi gave an overview of progress made so far in the disbursement of loans under the facility.
“To date, Empower Bank has received 537 applications nationally with applications valued at approximately US$1 385 525. Of these applications, 202 have been approved, resulting in loan disbursements amounting to US$510 213. In Manicaland we have received 124 loan applications with 53 loans disbursed to date, amounting to US$141 900. These investments are already supporting young entrepreneurs who are creating business, generating income and contributing to local economic development,” he said.
