adminSithandazile Moyo Business Reporter
YOUTHS have been urged to stand up and grab opportunities being availed to them through the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) to participate actively in the revival of the economy. Speaking at a two-day youth symposium on Zim-Asset in Bulawayo yesterday, an academic Butler Tambo urged the youths not to be lazy but participate in the implementation of the economic blueprint.
“Young people must embrace this document and find your place in it to realise opportunities that are available in it,” he said.
He said there were a number of opportunities offered in the policy document which if fully exploited could bring good results to young people.
“As youths you need to make sure that you participate in the implementation of the Zim-Asset, find those gaps that are in it and take up the opportunities instead of criticising the document whereas you are not doing anything,” he said.
Tambo said the country should not depend on donors to fund the economic blue- print but everyone should get involved in particular the young people.
He said there was a need to avail loans to help young people start businesses.
“The youth loans are not the solution to the problem; however the government and financial institutions should work on availing commercial loans which will ease the financial constraints being faced by young people who want to start businesses,” said Tambo.
National Youth Development Trust director Liberty Bhebhe said such forums were important in empowering and equipping the youth with relevant information on how to actively participate in the revival of the economy.
“The main aim of this forum is to enable youths to understand the document and participate in its implementation,” said Bhebhe.
He said young people should have influence on the document to ensure that all decisions made by the government would be favourable to them.
“We want the youth to have influence in the content and implementation of the Zim- Asset document to ensure that all decisions made by the government will be relevant and benefit them,” said Bhebhe.
Bongani Ndlovu