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Government has availed US$17 million to jump-start youths projects as it moves to empower the youths who are the country’s future leaders.

Launching the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme in Harare which was attended by thousands of youths from across the country on Thursday, President Mnangagwa said youths in agriculture, mining and those involved in other income-generating projects will benefit from the funding meant to boost their operations.

He said US$10 million will be availed for youths in agriculture, US$5 million will fund the youths mining equipment and a US$2 million revolving fund will provide loans to youths involved in income-generating projects.

At the launch President Mnangagwa handed over 72 tractors, 10 combine harvesters, 10 vehicles and 10 borehole drilling rigs to be shared by youths from the country’s 10 provinces. President Mnangagwa said Government is working on more similar initiatives meant to empower the youths who should take a leading role in building the Zimbabwe we all want.

The Youth Empowerment Bank will administer the availed Youth Fund. President Mnangagwa urged those responsible for distributing the availed resources to exercise high levels of morality and ethical consideration.

He said the schemes must identify deserving and capable youths. “No to favouritism and corruption. I want this to be an enduring and sustainable fund which benefits the majority of our country’s youths,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said those that benefit from the revolving fund should pay back the loans so that others also benefit.
President Mnangagwa said the Second Republic has appointed many young people into strategic areas of governance and decision-making as it continues to explore avenues to deliberately empower the youths who are the country’s future leaders. He said Government has over the years implemented tangible youth empowerment projects such as piggery, heifer and poultry schemes among others.

President Mnangagwa, Vice-President Chiwenga and wife Colonel Miniyothabo, Minister of Defence Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri and Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Tino Machakaire watch children demonstrate their taekwondo skills during the National Youth Day celebration at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo. Picture — BELIEVE NYAKUDYARA

We want at this juncture to implore Government to put in place mechanisms to guard against the abuse of the Youth Empowerment Fund by unscrupulous individuals as has happened in the past.

There is a need to ensure that those that access the funding are deserving youths that have the capacity to put the availed resources to good use. The administrators of the fund who are found wanting should be punished severely to send a strong message that Government does not tolerate incompetence when it comes to handling public funds.

Many unscrupulous individuals have in the past taken advantage of incompetent or corrupt fund administrators to abuse such funding to benefit themselves at the expense of deserving beneficiaries.