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Ranson Madzamba

Correspondent

The newly-created ministries of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training and that of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture have put the interests of youths top of the agenda in their separate lines of duty.

The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire, is a well-known man of progressive endeavours. 

A number of Zimbabwean youths envy him since he is a young accomplished businessman.

He is well known for promoting, if not funding, many youths in various developmental activities that include farming, mining, sport and even the arts. 

His appointment to lead the Ministry for the youths was welcomed by a number of people, the majority being the young ones themselves.

Well, considering the fact that the majority of the Zimbabwean populace are the youths, the Minister and his team have a mammoth task that requires more of action than anything else.

The youths are looking forward to have those empowerment programmes that will improve their livelihoods and the economy of the nation at large. 

The youths need more employment opportunities.

Drugs and substance abuse among the youths is on the rise and more has to be done to curb this menace.

There is high need to involve youths in all sectors of the economy be it mining, tourism and agriculture and above all be included in the developmental discourse of the country. 

In short, the youths who happen to be the majority, have a bigger role to play for the attainment of an upper middle-income society by the year 2030 (Vision 2030).

Recently addressing his Ministry and the Zimbabwe Youth Council Staff, Minister Machakaire emphasised the need to involve youths in all their affairs.

“We must come up with solutions that will make youths appreciate their Ministry. We want to see young people in our structures and we need platforms for young people to bring out issues and their ideas,” he said.

To achieve all this, the Minister explored on the essentiality of five working principles that are: respect, love, time, accountability as well as giving hope to all young people.

Minister Machakaire came to the realisation that anything for the youths without the youths is indeed not for the youths.

On another note, the Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Kirsty Coventry, pledged to continue working together with Minister Machakaire, her former deputy Minister, since their ministries have a lot in common.

Minister Coventry is now a well-oiled Minister eager to transform the sport and arts sectors into vibrant industries. 

She is a renowned Olympian who made the country proud by bringing prestigious medals.

This coming month, she will, together with her team, convene to deliberate on the best strategy to transform the sport and arts sectors for the year 2024. 

Minister Machakaire and his team are going to convene as well in October, to deliberate and come up with the best strategy on how they are going to develop and empower the young people in Zimbabwe.

They are also going to deliberate and come up with the best transformation strategy for Vocational Training Centres (VTCs), as well as the National Youth Service.

Their deputy ministers are as well proving to be hands on individuals. 

Recently, Deputy Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Emily Jesaya was part of the crowd that witnessed the match between Dynamos and Caps United at the National Sports Stadium, while Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Kudakwashe Mpamhanga was recently the guest of honour at Youth Build Zimbabwe graduation ceremony in Shamva.

Deputy Minister Mpamhanga emphasised the need for a holistic approach to end drug abuse among youths. 

He urged all guardians and parents to come together in the fight against drug and substance abuse among the youths and encouraged the youths to acquire life skills training at various VTCs in the country.

“I urge you to continue from here and enrol at our Vocational Training Centres to further polish the various skills that you have acquired. I also exhort you to take advantage of available empowerment programmes in the Ministry as well as at Empower Bank, which is Zimbabwe’s youth-oriented bank,” he said.

“I encourage you to stay away from drugs and other harmful substances, and to always respect yourselves and act with dignity as leaders in your communities. Use the knowledge and skills you have acquired here to develop your communities, and always remember that: “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” he said.

Such is the current state with the newly born ministries. The youthful ministers are all eager to deliver in their respective portfolios. 

They are indeed hitting the ground running all for the attainment of Vision 2030.

Ranson Madzamba is a Communication and Advocacy PhD student. He is a holder of a Master of Science Degree in Media and Society Studies. He is also a holder of a BSc in Media and Society Studies.