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youths of our country now possess this kind of power. Over the years, we have developed a strong desire for accomplishment and it is more than just a mere whimsical musing over a speculative end.
I believe we now have sufficient passion needed to create a force that can overcome limitations even as huge as the illegal sanctions that have been imposed on our country by the West.
While the process of indigenisation is being deemed a successful one here at home so far, yet still more youths are left with unanswered questions, unsatisfied needs and unmet demands in more areas than one.
If the purpose for indigenisation is to empower the indigenous people today going forward; this view point then should be true that the youths of Zimbabwe are the best conduits, recipients and beneficiaries of economic empowerment and indigenisation.
Youths are inevitably the future of this country and if ever the future is going to belong to Zimbabweans it might as well be in their hands today. The Government through the Ministry of Youth Development Indigenisation and Empowerment has made huge efforts to ensure that young Zimbabweans are empowered.
For the first time in our history youths are now proud owners of farms, small scale manufacturing companies, telecommunication companies, holders of gold buying licences, commercial fishing permits, mining claims etc. The youths are now able to dream in terms of becoming employers, acquiring operating licences and biding for tenders. For the first time we are now able to freely choose any sector of our choice from tourism, mining, banking, telecommunications etc without fear of stigmatisation and racial prejudice.
In this regard the government has opened a door of hope within young Zimbabweans, hope for a better life, a brighter future full of possibilities, a reason to stay in the country and not wonder around the world bagging for employment, a sense of ownership of our destiny and an improved self worth.
When young people represent Zimbabwe outside the country they go with a sense of pride and have become an example and a marvel to our fellow African countries. With indigenisation of our resources on the cards we are undoubtedly ahead of many African countries who are still contemplating on how they can gain full control of their own resources.
This success and progress on the part of our government though great and something to brag about runs a risk of not going further to achieve the desired goals if not closely monitored. The indigenisation and empowerment process must ensure that youths who are the leaders of tomorrow get an equitable stake in the economy, bearing in mind also that they constitute over 67 percent of the country’s population.
The chairman of the Zimbabwe Youth Council Mr Hamilton Pazvakavambwa in advocating for the youth recently forwarded a petition addressing challenges facing youths to the Hon Min of Finance Tendai Biti. The petition to Biti read: “The government through the Ministry of Finance should enforce 100 percent banking of all revenue proceeds by mining companies in indigenous local banks. This move will enable our national institutions such as NSSA, Zimra and the banking sector to play a more leading role in economic development thereby reducing the dangers of economic malaise bedeviling the present day Zimbabwe.” Youths have been waiting but regrettably are seeing the country losing on the multiplier effect.
“For example, out of US$300 million sales from minerals and we use the country multiplier of 2,5, approximately 750 million could be circulating in the economy as opposed to the money being banked in off shore accounts. Most businesses only pay dividends on a quarterly; half yearly and on yearly basis and the resources could be used in the national economy. The banking sector will afford to offer short to long term loans to small and medium sized enterprises. This will help tremendously in employment creation, development and total empowerment of the youths. Guided by the Zimbabwe Youth Council Act 25:19 of 1997 the youths are now tired of being told that there is no money to spearhead youth developmental projects and yet foreign currency is being generated and leaving the country on a daily basis.
“A country like Zimbabwe should never face a liquidity crunch considering the value of precious minerals extracted and sold on a daily basis.
“Youths have come to the realisation that they are going to remain poor and even poorer if they are not to stand up for what rightfully belongs to them. It is our hope as the youths of this beloved country that you will address our challenges”.
I concur with the petition there is need to jealously guard our resources and the profits made thereof. We urge the responsible offices to take a stand against corperates that are failing to comply with the indigenisation statutes. Our land is all we have and we are entitled to what comes out of it.
We risk paralysing the incoming generation, denying them what they are entitled to as the sons of the soil, the youths and the future of this country if we mismanage and fail to capitalise, maximise and become proficient at utilising our resources.