Online Reporter
Joseph Madzimure-Zimpapers Politics Hub
YOUTH empowerment lobby group, Boys DzaMdara, is set to celebrate its fourth anniversary with a major empowerment festival expected to draw more than 7 000 young people, as it steps up efforts to mainstream youth participation in the economy.
The commemorations, set for Friday at Heritage Village in Harare, will bring together youths, Government ministries, parastatals, private sector players and development partners to showcase empowerment opportunities and successful youth-led enterprises.
Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi is expected to be the guest of honour.
The event comes at a time when the Government is intensifying programmes aimed at empowering young people through access to funding, skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities in line with Vision 2030.
Boys DzaMdara national chairperson Cde Hopewell Chako said the anniversary would provide an opportunity for the organisation to reflect on its achievements, assess challenges and map the way forward.
“On October 2 this year, we will mark the fourth anniversary of the organisation,” he said.
“We want to assess the progress we have made in empowering youth, identify our challenges and outline the way forward.
“Our goal is to empower young people aged 15-35, so they can establish and grow their own businesses.”
Cde Chako said the organisation’s thrust was to ensure that young people become active participants in economic development rather than spectators.
The empowerment lobby recently received US$60 000 from the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund, which has been channelled towards youth projects in all the country’s 10 provinces.
The funding has enabled youths to venture into various income-generating projects, including fence manufacturing, garment production, piggery and poultry farming.
“Our youth are now into fence making, garment manufacturing, pig and chicken production.
“We will be exhibiting our products at the exhibition arena on the day,” said Cde Chako.
The anniversary celebrations will feature an exhibition showcasing products and services from youth-led enterprises, Government agencies and private sector organisations.
Seed companies are also expected to exhibit drought-tolerant and short-season seed varieties as preparations gather momentum for the forthcoming summer cropping season.
Organisers say the festival is designed to inspire innovation, entrepreneurship and self-reliance among young people while creating linkages between youths and potential investors, financiers and markets.
Over the past four years, Boys DzaMdara has supported thousands of young people through project funding, skills training and access to resources for income-generating ventures such as brick moulding, tailoring and small-scale mining.
The organisation says empowering youths with practical skills and business opportunities is key to unlocking their potential and accelerating national development.
With thousands of delegates expected to attend, next week’s celebrations are set to highlight the growing role of Zimbabwe’s youth in driving production, creating jobs and contributing to the country’s journey towards an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
