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Minister Sithembiso Nyoni

Columbus Mabika Harare Bureau
Providing youths with commercial skills guidance and mentorship will lead to creation of new jobs which spur economic growth, a Cabinet minister has said.

Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise and Cooperative Development Sithembiso Nyoni said this while officially launching the International Youth Foundation (IYF) Zimbabwe works programme on Tuesday.

The event coincided with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between her ministry and the IYF.

Minister Nyoni said development of entrepreneurial skills in Zimbabwe would increase employment opportunities for the youths.

“I believe by providing entrepreneurial skills training and mentorship to our youths, tens of thousands of new jobs will be created, which will in turn stimulate economic growth.

“These initiatives are handy as they cushion our youths against unemployment by facilitating their entry into self employment ventures,” she said.

She said increasing jobs through entrepreneurship remained one of the country’s challenges in transforming the economy and that sustainable development could not be achieved by only focusing on attracting foreign direct investment.

“I believe that contribution by the Zimbabwean youths through entrepreneurial skills will lead to the development of our nation,” she said.

Minister Nyoni said a Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises survey had shown that there were 2,8 million small to medium entrepreneurs employing 5.7 million people as at 2012.

The IYF programme has supported entrepreneurship, financial programmes, technical life skills and private sector partnerships for 22,000 youths in recent years.