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Conrad Mupesa Herald Correspondent
Youths from Makonde and Zvimba districts in Mashonaland West Province have praised President Mnangagwa for the relief grants they are getting under the Covid-19 youth relief fund.

The youths, who are part of the first batch of 87 people to benefit from the fund in the province, said the grants came at an opportune time as their businesses were battling to survive due to the lockdown-induced closure.

Disbursement of the grants took place at Cooksey Hall in Chinhoyi on Wednesday. Beneficiaries were drawn from economic sub-sectors that include mining, agriculture retail business, sports and manufacturing.

Mr Aggripa Makanya (32) of Depramaw Mining Syndicate based in Makonde’s Ward 14, said the lockdown had affected revenue inflows and plans to source international markets.

“We were planning to take some of our samples to Hong Kong, Zambia and Botswana, but the international Covid-19 lockdown has affected us,” he said.

“The lockdown has also affected the welfare of the syndicate and its 20 employees.”

Another beneficiary, Mr Oscar Chakumbira (33) from Zvimba District, challenged other youths to apply for the grants that are aimed at resuscitating their businesses.

Mr Chakumbira is involved in basket weaving, fine art, drawing and carving, and has markets in Sweden, Australia and the US. He said like other businesspersons, his revenue dwindled since January due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Provincial youth officer Mr Edias Mavune said his ministry was going to speed up the selection process so that deserving youths receive their grants on time. Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Deputy Minister Tinomuda Machakaire launched the fund in Chegutu last week, where he challenged the beneficiaries to use the money to boost their businesses.

He said although the relief programme was aimed at cushioning youths, there was need to adopt the model and use it in other future youth funding projects.

The director for youth development and economic empowerment in the Ministry of Youth, Mr Elias Murinda, said youths in the formal and informal sectors were expected to benefit from the fund. The selection process is done at provincial level, where there is a committee chaired by a provincial youth officer.

The fund is being distributed equally among the country’s 10 provinces.