Ranson Madzamba
THOUSANDS of young people are expected to converge in Harare for a two-day Youth Empowerment Symposium that is scheduled for the 4 and 5 November this year.
The symposium comes at a time when empowering young people with practical skills, knowledge and opportunities has become increasingly important in addressing unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship and preparing the next generation to contribute meaningfully to the country’s social and economic transformation and as contained in the National Development Strategy 2.
The gathering is expected to bring together young people from diverse backgrounds, alongside key stakeholders to deliberate on opportunities for economic advancement, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation and youth participation in national development.
By convening thousands of youths under one roof, the event provides an opportunity to create a shared platform where young people can engage with national leadership, exchange ideas and explore practical solutions to the challenges affecting their economic well-being.
Well, beyond the speeches and formal proceedings, the symposium presents an opportunity to strengthen dialogue between young people and institutions responsible for youth empowerment and development.
Such an engagement helps in ensuring that programmes and policies respond to the aspirations, needs and lived experiences of the country’s youth.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, the organising ministry, has a central role in advancing initiatives that equip young people with relevant vocational skills, promote self-reliance and connect them to opportunities in the changing economic environment.
Vocational training in particular remains an important pathway for young people seeking practical competencies that can be applied in formal employment, entrepreneurship and community-based enterprises.
The symposium will indeed provide a platform to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship as a means of expanding economic participation. Our young people can be better positioned to turn innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises only if they have access to mentorship, business development support, financial literacy and appropriate funding mechanisms.
Equally significant is the need to ensure that young people in rural communities, persons with disabilities and other groups who may face barriers to opportunities are included in empowerment initiatives.
Inclusive participation helps in broadening the reach of skills development and economic opportunities. The gathering thus reinforces the importance of viewing young people not merely as future leaders, but as active partners in national development today.
At a time when young people face challenges ranging from unemployment and limited economic opportunities to drug and substance abuse, mental health concerns and a rapidly changing digital landscape, the symposium offers an important space for dialogue, learning and collective problem-solving.
It is an investment in human capital, leadership development and the creation of a generation equipped to navigate emerging challenges while identifying opportunities for growth.
However, the significance of the symposium will ultimately be measured not only by the number of participants to attend, but also by the practical outcomes to follow.
Commitments to be made during the gathering will be translated into sustained programmes that include mentorship, business incubation, career guidance and pathways to employment. Effective follow-up mechanisms will definitely be essential in ensuring that the discussions produce tangible benefits for young people.
One of the key benefits of hosting the symposium is that it gives young people a platform to express their aspirations, concerns and expectations. Their participation ensures that conversations about youth development are informed by the realities they experience, rather than decisions being made without their input. It is indeed true that, anything for the youths without the youths is not for the youths.
The event is crucial in nurturing leadership qualities, critical thinking, public speaking and decision-making skills. Through discussions and mentorship sessions the participants can gain practical knowledge that prepares them to assume leadership roles in their schools, workplaces, businesses and communities.
The symposium connects aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced businesspeople, financial institutions and potential mentors. These connections help turn ideas into viable enterprises, create employment opportunities and encourage young people to become active contributors to economic growth.
The event further promotes innovation by encouraging participants to explore technology-driven solutions to challenges in agriculture, education, healthcare, environmental protection and service delivery. Such an engagement helps in positioning young people not merely as beneficiaries of development programmes, but as innovators and partners in finding solutions.
Beyond economic issues, the symposium provides an avenue for addressing social challenges affecting young people. Open and constructive discussions on drug and substance abuse, mental health, peer pressure, gender-based violence and responsible decision-making help participants access reliable information and identify support systems within their communities.
The event is coming at a time when the country is currently planning to be part of the 2026 YouthConnekt Africa Summit to be held from the 25th to the 27th of November in Rwanda. Zimbabwe is in the bidding race with Zambia to host the 2027 YouthConnekt Africa Summit. The winner would be announced during the 2026 YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Rwanda. YouthConnekt Africa is a continental platform established to connect young people to economic opportunities, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, financial inclusion, mentorship and policy dialogue.
The initiative was pioneered by the Government of Rwanda in 2012 and has since grown into a Pan-African movement supported by the African Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Development Partners and African Governments.
The YouthConnekt Africa Summit is a flagship annual gathering of youth leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, development partners, investors, academia and private sector from across the continent.
The summit provides a platform for showcasing innovations, sharing best practices, fostering partnerships and advancing youth development agendas.
Zimbabwe has been an active participant in YouthConnekt Africa Summit activities and has consistently demonstrated commitment towards youth empowerment interventions.
n Ranson Madzamba is the Director of Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and vocational Training.
