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Minister Nhema

Herald Reporters
Entrepreneurial skills should be imparted into youths at an early stage to nurture a business mind and avoid situations where they fail to service loans, Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Minister Francis Nhema said. Speaking during a post-election dialogue conference organised by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches in Harare last week, Minister Nhema said at least 65 percent of youths who benefited under various youth funds set up by Government were failing to service their loans owing to lack of knowledge.

The three-day conference brought together political parties, church leaders and traditional leaders to identify key post-election issues and provide a platform for reflection and analysis.

Minister Nhema said some of the youths had disappeared and changed their addresses and telephone numbers.
“Empowerment is not all about money,” he said.

“The issue is were we empowered emotionally, spiritually and socially? No, we were not. I do not speak empowerment of money because all the youths who benefited from the loans given to them are not paying.

“I am looking for them and I cannot find their addresses. I am looking for their cellphones, but I cannot find them.
“So, they were never empowered. They took the money and they ran away and you know it; you told them to grab and run.”
Minister Nhema said a huge chunk of defaulters were those who benefited under the Old Mutual-Cabs Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund.
More than US$4 million was distributed under the fund with beneficiaries getting US$5 000 and above to start businesses.
“It is a revolving fund and they should pay up so that it benefits others out there who are in search of empowerment,” Minister Nhema said.
Some of the youths had established successful businesses with the loans.

“I should take responsibility that when we gave them (the loans), we did not consider that they were first time entrepreneurs and there was need to train them before they collected the money,” said Minister Nhema.

“As a Government, we will continue working hard to ensure that we provide them with the requisite skills before giving them the money.”
Minister Nhema said the idea of indeginisation and empowerment programme was for ordinary Zimbabweans to participate in the mainstream economy.

“Youths from 10-25 years should be groomed at this tender age so that they have a vision of what they want to be in future. It is difficult to change their mindset when they are a bit older.

“We want the young people to know and embrace the opportunities that are available to them. Even without proper education, we adequately train them to make something out of their lives and stop all the mischief they are sometimes engaged in,” he said.

Presenting a paper on Opportunities for Political and Social Development in the New Constitutional Dispensation, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa said the new constitution gives the country an opportunity to overcome challenges facing the nation and provide avenues to fight unemployment and poverty.

“The new Constitution is an embodiment of our best hopes, aspirants, ideals and values for a peaceful and more prosperous nation,” he said in a speech read on his behalf by acting secretary in the ministry Mr Maxwell Ranga.

“Zimbabweans should be proud of making history as one of the few nations in the world that has managed to replace their colonial constitutions in a peaceful manner.

“I have no doubt that the document will fundamentally transform our nation economically, politically and socially.”
Minister Mnangagwa said politicians should now stop politicking and concentrate on nation-building as required.

ZCC president Bishop Ishmael Mukuwanda said it was critical for the church to engage Government and political parties to ensure that those elected into office adhere to their election promises.