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Nokuthaba Brita Ncube, [email protected]

PARLIAMENTARIANS have called for the establishment of a dedicated framework that ensures 30 percent of Government tenders are reserved for youth-led enterprises, a move aimed at promoting economic empowerment and entrepreneurial growth among young people.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, legislators emphasised that the country’s supreme law underscores youth mainstreaming, participation, and empowerment as vital components of national economic development.

National Assembly

Masvingo Province youth quota legislator in the National Assembly, Honourable Naledi Lindarose Maunganidze, noted that youth-led enterprises face numerous challenges, chief among them being the inability to access Government contracts, which negatively impacts economic growth.

“The establishment of a framework to reserve 30 percent of all Government tenders for youth-led enterprises will foster economic empowerment, create jobs, encourage entrepreneurship, and promote inclusive socio-economic development,” she said.

According to the 2022 census conducted by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) youth constitute over 60 percent of the population.

However, despite their numerical dominance, Hon Maunganidze said youth unemployment remains exceedingly high, with the ZimStat Labour Force Survey revealing rates exceeding 50 percent.

Many young entrepreneurs, she said, remain excluded from accessing public procurement opportunities, which form a significant share of public expenditure. Leveraging Government tenders to empower youth-led enterprises is a practical step toward fulfilling constitutional obligations.

According to Hon Maunganidze, prioritising youth-led enterprises will help address Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8), which focuses on creating job opportunities and ensuring young people actively participate in and benefit from economic development.

She outlined the vast benefits of the framework, including job creation through direct economic opportunities, entrepreneurship stimulation by fostering innovation, and the formalisation of the informal sector.
“Many youth enterprises are currently operate informally, and this framework will drive their formalisation, expanding the tax base and strengthening economic resilience,” said Hon Maunganidze.

To ensure the success of the initiative, Hon Maunganidze recommended transparent verification processes, capacity-building programmes, institutional support, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation.

“Furthermore, collaboration with the private sector is essential. Encouraging private companies to adopt similar youth-focused frameworks will extend opportunities beyond Government contracts, particularly in high-growth sectors such as technology, agriculture, and renewable energy,” she said.

Zanu-PF Youth League Manicaland Province chairperson, Cde Stanley Sakupwanya, echoed Hon Maunganidze’s sentiments, stressing that the motion will pave the way for fresh ideas and equitable access to tenders.
“Through this motion, there will never be a monopoly of tenders. It speaks directly to creating opportunities for all, leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.