Zim-Asset under spotlight

Business Reporter
About 100 youths from across the country are set to attend a two-day symposium to explore the government’s five-year economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset). The event, which starts today and is organised by the National Youth Development Trust (NYDT), will be held under the theme: “Assessing the Zim-Asset as a panacea to socio-economic challenges faced by youths.”

The symposium provides an opportunity for the youths to familiarise themselves with, and deliberate widely on the prospects that Zim-Asset offers.
Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Francis Nhema is the guest of honour at the symposium.

NYDT director Liberty Bhebhe said Minister Nhema will have an audience with the youths and lead a broader discussion on the ministry’s key priorities for the year.
“About 100 youths from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Gweru, Masvingo and Harare are anticipated to attend. The delegates are drawn from academia, media, political parties, government departments and the NYDT membership,” said Bhebhe.

Zim-Asset was crafted to achieve sustainable development and social equity anchored on indigenisation, empowerment and employment creation, which will be largely propelled by the careful exploitation of the country’s abundant human and natural resources. It is anchored on four strategic clusters- Food Security and Nutrition; Social Services and Poverty Eradication; Infrastructure and Utilities; and Value Addition and Beneficiation.

At least $27 billion is required in the next five years to fund projects under Zim-Asset. Bhebhe said the symposium hopes to enhance youth participation in national development and accompanying discourse around Zim-Asset. It will also critically analyse the blueprint from a youth perspective and assess whether it is a panacea to socio-economic challenges being faced by youths.

A post-symposium document containing research papers from the speakers and editorial comments from the NYDT, Bhebhe said, would be published and circulated among legislators, political parties, civil society organisations and local government authorities, among others. Zim-Asset is also set to dominate this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) one day international business conference.  The ZITF runs from April 22 to 26.