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Joseph Madzimure Senior Reporter
Government has availed more than 520 hectares of land across the country towards youth empowerment, Zanu-PF Deputy Secretary for Youth Affairs Cde Lewis Matutu has said. The eight provincial ministers have since been instructed to identify and reserve underutilised land for the exercise, which is in fulfilment of the youth’s request for empowerment initiatives.

A letter to the provincial ministers from Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri states that all the provinces should identify vacant land and prioritise its allocation to the youth in support of their request.
“I acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated 23 September 2019, wherein you requested for a quota system for the youth in the distribution of farm inputs, mechanisation, equipment and other Government-initiated programmes,” reads the letter from Minister Shiri.

“In that same letter, you requested my ministry to engage respective Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs towards the noble objective of empowering the youth through an allocation of 10 hectares for youth projects in every district of their respective provinces.

“Regarding the distribution of youths inputs, you are hereby advised that the determination of who gets what inputs is now the responsibility of CBZ Bank, whilst Agribank is responsible for disbursement of mechanisation equipment. In that vein, we shall make the two institutions realise the importance of taking the youth on board.

“Concerning the issue of allocating 10 hectares for youth projects in every district of each province, you are hereby advised that my office has officially communicated to the respective Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs regarding that important issue. Your office was duly copied on that correspondence for ease of reference.”

Minister Shiri said youth will decide the appropriate ventures to pursue in each respective district according to the prevailing conditions in that ecological region.
Cde Matutu also applauded the development.

“We are happy the Government has availed land for youth to engage in farming activities,” he said. “Each district will get at least 10 hectares. We applaud the Government for heeding our call as youth.

“We are going to source inputs for the youth to maximise production. We expect to get at least 500ha per province to ensure youth are allocated enough land.”