Staff Reporter
THE government says this year’s National Youth Day, scheduled for Friday, will focus on initiatives aimed at enhancing the welfare and livelihoods of young people across the country.
In an interview, minister of Youth Tino Machakaire said the government is committed to empowering youth, urging them to take a proactive role in the nation’s economic transformation.
“As we celebrate the 21st February Movement, we encourage the youth of Zimbabwe to unite and concentrate on the economy rather than getting distracted by petty issues,” he stated.
“On this day, there will be opportunities for young people to exchange innovative and entrepreneurial ideas to enhance their skills and knowledge, enabling them to contribute to our great nation,” he said.
Machakaire added the government would address the pressing issue of drug and substance abuse, which is threatening the future of many youths.
“We are committed to launching projects that engage young people so that they have meaningful activities to occupy their time and steer clear of drug and substance abuse.
“The law enforcement agencies will fulfil their responsibilities in addressing drug abuse; however, we must also empower our youth by providing them with opportunities for livelihood.
“We plan to ensure that the youth can participate in various government projects, including construction and road refurbishment, to give them tangible work opportunities, regardless of the project’s scale.”
The minister added that reducing the high unemployment rate among young people is a primary objective for the government.
“Our youth are the future leaders of this nation, and it is essential to empower them through quality education and entrepreneurial skills to shape their futures and improve their livelihoods.
“We aim to promote youth-led projects by facilitating technology transfer and creating connections between technology suppliers, financial institutions, and young innovators.
“This approach will ensure the suitability and effectiveness of our skills training systems and develop a youth empowerment model that addresses the issues of high unemployment among trained youths,” Machakaire said.
The youth arm of the ruling party lobbied for the former president’s birthday to be declared a national holiday for what the organization says was the leader’s role in empowering the country’s youth.
The day was formally recognized as a national holiday on November 27, 2017, three days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa was sworn in as leader of Zimbabwe.