Peter Matika, Zimpapers Writer
ZIMBABWE is in the final two-country race to host the 2027 YouthConnekt Africa Summit, with a continental assessment team expected in the country this week to evaluate its capacity to stage the high-profile youth development gathering.
Zimbabwe is competing against Zambia after submitting its bid through a competitive selection process overseen by the YouthConnekt Africa Secretariat, with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training expressing confidence in Zimbabwe’s chances of securing the hosting rights.
A team from the YouthConnekt Africa Secretariat is expected to arrive in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, October 14, for a final assessment of the country’s preparedness and capacity to host the event.
The assessment team will also visit Zambia as part of the final evaluation process before a decision is made on the successful bidder.
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training said Zimbabwe’s experience in hosting major international gatherings placed it in a strong position to win the bid.
“There is higher probability that we might win the bid basing on various reasons including our capability of having hosted various international events,” said the ministry.
Among the major events cited as evidence of the country’s hosting capacity are the SADC Summit, the Region Five Youth Games, World Tourism Expos and the recently held Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Summit.
The Ministry also highlighted Zimbabwe’s reputation for hospitality, saying its experience in accommodating international delegations and successfully hosting major gatherings could work in its favour.
The proposed summit is expected to attract more than 6 000 delegates from across Africa and beyond, including Heads of State and Government, Ministers responsible for youth affairs, development partners, investors, private sector leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics.
If successful, the hosting opportunity would place Zimbabwe at the centre of continental discussions on youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, innovation, skills development and economic inclusion.
The Ministry said hosting the summit would provide an important opportunity to showcase the country’s youth development programmes and strengthen cooperation with other African countries.
“Hosting the YouthConnekt Africa Summit 2027 will position Zimbabwe as a continental leader in youth empowerment, innovation, entrepreneurship, and skills development initiatives,” said the ministry.
The gathering is also expected to generate economic benefits through increased activity in the tourism, hospitality, transport, trade and services sectors, with local businesses likely to benefit from the arrival of thousands of delegates.
The summit would provide opportunities to interact with potential investors, access mentorship programmes, establish continental networks and showcase locally developed products, innovations and businesses.
The ministry said the event would also create opportunities for young entrepreneurs to connect with financiers and explore participation in regional and continental value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Zimbabwe’s bid is anchored on the Government’s broader youth empowerment agenda, guided by the Constitution, Vision 2030, the National Development Strategy 2, the National Youth Policy (2026-2030) and the National Youth Empowerment Strategy (2026-2030).
Hosting the summit would accelerate the implementation of the National Youth Policy by providing a platform to showcase its key pillars and flagship programmes while attracting investment into youth-led enterprises and empowerment initiatives.
The YouthConnekt Africa initiative was pioneered by the Government of Rwanda in 2012 and has since developed into a continental platform supported by the African Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), development partners and African governments.
It seeks to connect young people to economic opportunities, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, financial inclusion, mentorship and policy dialogue.
The annual YouthConnekt Africa Summit brings together youth leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, investors, development partners, academics and private sector players to share experiences, showcase innovations and forge partnerships aimed at advancing youth development.
Rwanda has hosted several editions of the summit, while Ghana hosted the 2021 edition and Kenya hosted the 2023 gathering.
Madagascar was initially awarded the 2025 edition following a competitive bidding process but could not host the event because of political instability.
Since 2024, the YouthConnekt Africa Secretariat has adopted a competitive bidding system to promote transparency and fairness in selecting countries to host future editions.
Zimbabwe’s participation in the initiative is part of its commitment to strengthening youth empowerment interventions and expanding opportunities for young people to participate in national and continental development.
