Zimbabwe launches Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Project
By Caleb Chikwawawa
The Zimbabwe government and its development partners on Wednesday launched the Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Project set to benefit some 13,000 youths from a selected 10 districts in the country.
The project, among other objectives, aims to enhance youth employability and entrepreneurship with training in life skills, business management, practical and technical skills, and climate-resilient business strategies.
It is a key step towards empowering young people with the skills and opportunities needed to drive inclusive economic growth.
The Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Project (YEE) gives the youth in business the opportunity to trade with other countries through identifying beneficiaries who are ready to do cross border trade, assisting them to navigate the trade processes.
The initiative was launched through the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.
It is a four-year project which partners with government and stakeholders to create employment opportunities for the youth.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, YEE project manager Cloffas Nyagumbo said that in the second phase of the project implementation, they have assisted some youths to export 7 tonnes of peas.
He said they were also in the process of identifying those who are to do cross border trade to give them the necessary assistance.
“We have a young lady who is doing flowers in Goromonzi. We have got plenty of those in Goromonzi.
“They are currently feeding the local market but just across, the same people at the (Africa) Unity Square are taking the flowers to Mozambique; so, can our young persons take their flowers to Mozambique themselves.
“These are opportunities which we see already emerging in horticulture,” said Nyagumbo.
