Online Reporter
Stephen Mpofu, [email protected]
AT no other moment in the 46 years since the independence of our motherland — born out of the ultimate sacrifice made by young men and women who laid down their lives in the armed struggle against imperial rule to secure uhuru — has the incumbent Zanu-PF
Government so deliberately opened a window of opportunity to the world for the youth of this country, both boys and girls, to take centre stage in shaping a bold and inclusive future. This renewed focus is most clearly embodied in the introduction of the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund, an initiative that speaks directly to the Government’s broad-based development thrust of leaving no place and no one behind, in keeping with the guiding mantra: “Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo”/ “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”/“a country is built by its own people.”
The Youth Economic Empowerment Fund, recently unveiled by the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, is designed to provide young entrepreneurs with access to affordable financing, while simultaneously promoting sustainable business growth and stimulating job creation across the country.
For years, countless young people completing their schooling have been confronted with limited employment opportunities at home, largely due to a lack of experience. Many have been compelled to make difficult decisions, joining long queues of migration to neighbouring and distant countries where they are often subjected to harsh working conditions for meagre wages. From those foreign lands, they send remittances back home — to buy land, build houses or invest in farming — all in anticipation of an eventual return once sufficient capital or experience has been accumulated.
Against this backdrop, the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund is intended to place young people on firmer footing, improving their welfare and that of their families, while also contributing meaningfully to the construction of a brave new future for Zimbabwe, not just for the present generation but for those yet to come, through deliberate participation in the programme.
One of the defining strengths of the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund lies in the safeguards put in place to ensure its success. Chief among these is the role of EmpowerBank, which has been mandated to oversee the disbursement of funds with a clear focus on transparency, efficiency and inclusivity, thereby safeguarding the integrity of the initiative.
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire, underscored the importance of collective responsibility in ensuring the fund’s sustainability when he stated: “In administering this fund we have adopted a collaborative approach to guarantee its sustainability. We call upon all stakeholders — traditional leaders, Members of Parliament, church leaders and the broader community – to play an active role in supervising and supporting beneficiaries.”
The message emerging clearly from this position is that this is not a moment for young people to derail their own futures through destructive political rivalries or to seek refuge in drug abuse as a response to unemployment and frustration. Rather, it is an opportunity for the youth to channel their energy into productive enterprise, actively engaging with and sustaining the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund programme for the holistic betterment of the nation — politically, economically and socially.
Those who have ears to hear have indeed heard, and they are called upon to join hands in supporting the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund, embracing its positive intentions and working collectively to ensure that it delivers on its promise to transform lives and help shape a prosperous Zimbabwe for generations to come.
