President Mnangagwa to Launch Youth Empowerment Fund in Harare

At least 5,000 young people from across Zimbabwe are expected to attend the launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund in Harare tomorrow, an initiative aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, job creation, and skills development among the youth. President Emmerson Mnangagwa will officiate at the event, which is set to reinforce the government’s commitment to youth empowerment as part of the Vision 2030 agenda.

The fund, which follows a similar initiative for war veterans, has been allocated US$2 million to be distributed across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces. War veterans recently received US$1.5 million under a parallel program led by Mnangagwa’s investment adviser, Paul Tungwarara. The youth fund will be spearheaded by Tungwarara alongside Youth Empowerment and Vocational Training Centres (VTC) Minister Tino Machakaire.

According to organizers, the fund is designed to support various economic activities, including job creation, entrepreneurship, industrialization, and digital transformation. It also seeks to boost youth participation in agriculture to enhance productivity and exports while fostering leadership and governance for national development.

Zanu PF deputy secretary for youth affairs, John Paradza, expressed enthusiasm about the launch, stating that the initiative aligns with the government’s broader vision of ensuring that young people play a key role in economic growth.

“We are excited to see youths from all provinces coming to witness this important initiative. President Mnangagwa has consistently emphasized the need to empower young people and promote economic development in Zimbabwe,” Paradza said.

Zanu PF Manicaland provincial youth leader, Stanley Sakupwanya, confirmed that 500 youths from his province would attend the event, with necessary logistics being arranged to facilitate their participation.

While some analysts have raised questions about the long-term impact of empowerment programs, others believe such initiatives provide opportunities for young people to access resources that can help them start businesses, gain skills, and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

Economic commentator Rejoice Ngwenya highlighted the importance of equipping youths with entrepreneurial skills alongside financial support to ensure sustainable development.

“The key to success in youth empowerment is not just providing funding but also ensuring that young people have the right skills to turn opportunities into long-term economic success,” Ngwenya said.

The launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund represents another step toward fostering economic inclusion and growth among Zimbabwe’s youth, with expectations that the initiative will help drive progress toward the country’s developmental goals.