Zimpapers Logo

Ashley Phiri, [email protected]

VICE-President Kembo Mohadi has said that investing in innovations and empowering youths are key drivers in achieving Zimbabwe’s socio-economic goals of an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

Speaking at the Public-Private Sector Business Interface Dinner hosted by the Vision 2030 Movement in Bulawayo on Friday, VP Mohadi highlighted the youth as the nation’s future. He stressed the responsibility of the older generation to empower them, paving the way for a prosperous future for Zimbabwe.

“Our generation with President Mnangagwa has run the race and made our contribution to the country. Now we are preparing the next generation to take over and drive the nation’s vision forward and that is why you will notice that in our cabinet about 90 percent of deputy ministers are youths. We are now grooming the youth so that when we leave we will know that we are leaving the country in capable experienced hands.

“I would like to call upon the private sector to complement Government efforts by giving young people industrial attachment when they need it so they can harness their skills and be empowered to carry the nation’s vision forward,” he said.

VP Mohadi also emphasised the need to embrace technology and move with the times. He argued that nostalgia for the past cannot hold Zimbabwe back, as technology is the key to the nation’s future.

“We know that it will not benefit the nation to be nostalgic about industries past, but we have to embrace innovation as the future and that is why as Government we are aiming to train youths in software development and coding as that is the future of industry in the world and we would not want to lag behind,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Industry and Commerce Minister, Nqobizitha Ndlovu, championed innovation industries as the future of industrialisation. He argued that embracing and promoting these industries will propel Zimbabwe onto the global map, achieving recognition, not only internationally, but also on a wider global scale.

“I strongly believe and I know I am not very popular with some of my colleagues for believing this, but perhaps the industries that will                                                                                              help this country be counted among the best in Africa and the world are yet to be formed and those are going to be innovation-led industries. 

“Let’s come up with industries of the future. One giant corporation can lead to the empowerment of other entities and the growth of a sector. In Bulawayo we had the National Railways of Zimbabwe and the role NRZ played in the foundry business is immense, another giant can do the same for innovation industries,” he said.

Vision 2030 Movement president, Mr Paul Tapiwa Mavima, stressed the need for collaboration between the Government and private sector. He argued that empowering innovators from marginalised communities is crucial, as Zimbabwe is currently missing out on a wealth of untapped potential. The collaborative approach, he suggested, can unlock the full potential of the nation’s innovative minds.

“We have so many ideas coming from young people, but the problem is that some of the innovations don’t reach the ears of those in decision making positions. Some innovations come from marginalised communities. For example, Binga and Gokwe has so many innovations, but because innovation is so centred on tertiary institutions, the country’s leadership does not get to hear about these innovations. Youths from these areas cannot access these innovation hubs and that is against international standards of promoting innovation,” he said. Mr Mavima also called on the private sector to support youth innovations by providing funding to make prototypes.

“The other thing that stops these innovations from fully developing is that innovation also requires that you develop a prototype before you can pitch and get funding for your project and that is something young people struggle to get. Public and private sector can partake in helping these young innovators so we can drive the country’s vision forward because Vision 2030 is not a vision of the Government nor is it a vision of the President, it’s a vision for everyone who is a Zimbabwean,” he said.