Engage in farming, mining youths urged
YOUTHS have been urged to tap into growing opportunities in mining and agriculture sectors to scale up their contribution to mainstream economy and creation of jobs.
Speaking during the International Youth Day (IYD) commemorations in Bulawayo last week under the theme: ‘Intergenerational solidarity: Creating a world for all ages’ child president, Unathi Nyoni, said youths should stand up and involve themselves in business activities that promote national development.
“The youth should stop saying they are the future but instead they should be engaging themselves in activities like farming and mining to promote their growth and the economy of the nation,” he said.
gender-based violence
“Youths should eliminate harmful social and cultural practices affecting them. These include drug abuse, gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices, poverty, corruption and climate change.”
Nyoni’s sentiments come at a time when a majority of youths are unemployed amid concerns that many were engaged in drug abuse activities leading to psychiatric complications.
Nyoni said Zimbabwe was a youthful country and encouraged fellow youths to emulate the country’s freedom fighters who participated in the liberation struggle at tender age leading to independence in 1980.
“Youth are not the future leaders. Youth are the present-day leaders,” he said
Government has already hinted on plans to rope in the youth in mining operations through giving them concessions across provinces as part of a youth empowerment drive that would enable young people to venture into mining.
The resolution was recently adopted by Cabinet as part of measures to afford the youth opportunity to own means of production and create employment.
Youths, particularly in gold rich districts in Matabeleland region have long implored the Government to allocate them some mining claims so that they can positively contribute to the national economy.
Empower Bank
The Government established Empower Bank as a micro-banking unit in 2018 to specifically support different youth initiatives in order to revive the economy.-chronice.ozw
