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Cde Patrick Zhuwao

Prince Sunduzani, Chronicle Reporter
POLITICAL polarisation in the country has resulted in youths losing out on Government programmes as they mistake them for political party projects, a Cabinet Minister has said.

Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister, Cde Patrick Zhuwao, told an audience at a Joshua Nkomo Memorial Youth Symposium in Bulawayo on Thursday, that youths must be pro-active in the country’s economic development.

He said most people distanced themselves from land reform saying it was a Zanu-PF programme yet it was a Government policy meant to benefit Zimbabweans.

Cde Zhuwao called on youths to seek information before shying away from State programmes.

“Please, don’t be swayed by what other people tell you, go and check for yourself. In 2000 when the land reform programme came, people were saying this is a Zanu-PF programme and saying I’m not Zanu-PF and I don’t want to be affiliated with it. Before you run away from projects ask yourself what you want before going away saying this is a Zanu-PF programme, this is a Zanu-PF minister, and you lose out on national programmes,” said Cde Zhuwao.

He implored youths to take over from where the country’s liberators left, to guarantee the economic independence of Zimbabwe.

He said the youths have a duty to perpetuate the country’s legacy and guard against selling out on the values that led to the liberation war.

“Youths must take over from what our nationalists and war veterans did, they must take over in terms of what was done with the Development Trust of Zimbabwe.

“We need to be able to make sure that we will never break the promise that Umdala Wethu asked President Mugabe to keep, when he said ‘Robert make sure that land goes to the people’. We must make sure that we don’t give land back, we must never ever forget the legacy of our heroes,” he said.

Cde Zhuwao said the Government is committed to the empowerment of the youths.

“Not only must you be recognised, we have a responsibility as Government to facilitate the growth of youths as entrepreneurs, so we need to go through a process of identifying and celebrating them,” he said.

“We are trying to debunk this thing of saying only if you are a war veteran can you be called a stockholder of Zimbabwe.

“Only if you fought a militarily war for the independence of the country can you be recognised. You must be recognised in the particular economic endeavour that you are engaged in, because you are growing this economy.”

Speaking at the same event, African Development Bank director of special projects, Dr Sipho Moyo, said only youths can change the fortunes of Zimbabwe as they are the future.

“The liberation struggle was fought by our leaders like President Robert Mugabe and Dr Joshua Nkomo and other nationalists and that’s why we enjoy independence today.

“There are so many other things that the youths can do for this country and only you can change the fortunes of this country as you are the ones that  will be leading the country in the next generation,” she said.

She urged youths to embrace the opportunities provided by the African Development Bank in the agriculture and energy sector. — @ PrinceNkosy102