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Tariro Stacey Gatsi

IN a move meant to foster economic development and empowerment among youths, Government and financiers recently held a seven-day training programme on marketing and enhancement of business skills in Norton.

The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development and its Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD) held the training in collaboration with ENABLE-Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT).

TAAT is an agribusiness incubation project aiming to improve livelihoods of youths and women by increasing youth employment and production of nutritious food.

FARD director, Mr Milton Makumbe commended financiers for supporting the programme saying there was only one bank involved when they started but the number had since grown to three.

“We have observed a promising surge in the number of financiers who are recognising the potential of our young entrepreneurs. This increased interest in funding the youth signifies a growing belief in their capabilities and the positive impact they can make in the fish sector,” he added.

He urged young individuals to seize these opportunities, emphasising that their determination and drive combined with financial support, could lead to transformative changes in their lives and communities.

Two TAAT officers conducted the training and imparted knowledge on aquaculture to youths and women groups’ business and took participants to TAAT selected training centres under the monitoring and supervision of FARD.

Enable TAAT Liaison officer Mr Sibeso Consent from Zambia said support from financiers played a vital role in enabling young individuals to transform their innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.

“With access to funding, aspiring entrepreneurs can overcome financial barriers and embark on their entrepreneurial journeys with greater confidence,” he added.

Meanwhile, Enable TAAT Compact business development officer Mr Idowu Osun of Nigeria concurred saying it was about equipping young entrepreneurs with the necessary skills, knowledge, and guidance to navigate the business world successfully.

“We had targeted 100 youths to be equipped with adequate knowledge on how to transform agricultural activities to agribusiness for employment creation and income generation,” he added.

Government is also pushing the policy of inclusivity of pensioners, which is set to transform their livelihoods through income generation and improved access to nutritious food.

The programme is being rolled out under the Zimbabwe Pensioners Welfare Trust for Economic Development (ZPWTED).

Speaking on behalf of the Harare Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Charles Tavengwa, Finance, Administration and Human Resources director Mrs Margret Nyakudyara said Government had realised the importance of taking on board the needs of pensioners in socio-economic growth in line with the policy of inclusivity.

She said the programme would see an improvement in the lives of pensioners through the generation of income and improving access to nutritious food for the participating families and the surrounding communities.

ZPWTED is a registered trust with the mandate to improve the welfare of pensioners by economically empowering them through the provision of Government and private sector initiated programmes and projects.

At least 32 pensioners received their certificates during the launch. The department is targeting to train 2 000 pensioners across the country, he added.