Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
President Mnangagwa lifts a symbolic cheque before handing it over to Cde Alvin Lundy Sinzeka; Zanu PF Youth League chairman for Matabeleland North Province at the launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund in Harare yesterday with the assistance of the party’s deputy secretary for Youth Affairs Cde John Paradza (second from left) and Dr Paul Tungwarara, Special Presidential Investment Advisor to the United Arab Emirates (right). — Picture: Believe Nyakudjara 
Zvamaida Murwira, Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has set aside US$10 million for youths in agriculture and will provide a US$5 million fund under the Presidential Youth Mining Equipment Scheme for young artisanal miners as the Second Republic continues to make huge strides in empowering young people, President Mnangagwa has said.
Launching the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme at an event attended by thousands of youths drawn from the country’s 10 provinces in Harare yesterday, the President said a US$2 million revolving fund for youth income-generating projects had been established.
He said following the establishment of youth desks in Government ministries and the quest to ensure a conducive ease of doing business environment for the youth, notable strides were evident in youth empowerment and inclusion in all sectors of the economy.
“To advance this endeavour, today I am launching a US$2 million Presidential Youth Empowerment Revolving Fund that is earmarked to fund youth income generating projects. I am giving you 72 tractors,10 combine harvesters, 10 vehicles for provincial youth, and 10 rigs for boreholes,” he said.
“In addition, I am launching a US$5 million Presidential Youth Mining Equipment Scheme for our young artisanal miners. These two initiatives are just, but a few of the many that will follow in due course. The Youth Empowerment Bank will administer the fund”.
President Mnangagwa said the Government would be mobilising more financial resources towards this initiative.
“Additionally, from the US$50 million financing facility that my Government is mobilising to accelerate irrigation development, for climate-proofing agriculture, US$10 million will be reserved for the youth in agriculture.”
President Mnangagwa enjoys proceedings at the launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund in Harare yesterday. — Pictures: Believe Nyakudjara
The President called for transparency and accountability to ensure deserving youths benefit.
“As you distribute these resources, I urge you to exercise high levels of morality and ethical consideration. The schemes must identify deserving and capable youth.
“No to favouritism and corruption. I want this to be an enduring and sustainable fund which benefits the majority of our country’s youth.
“Hence, the US$2 million fund must not be taken as a free hand-out, but administered as a revolving one that issues loans, which are paid back for the benefit of many more people after.”
The President said symbiotic relations between the Zanu PF Youth League and the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training were mutually beneficial and served the youth.
As the programmes unfold, the President said, the Youth League national structures will be capacitated to offer technical assistance, as well as monitor and evaluate progress of the schemes for sustainability.
“To this end, the use of technology is the way to go to enhance productivity. I acknowledge youth development and empowerment strategic partners who have heeded our call for partnerships in resource mobilisation for this scheme,” said President Mnangagwa.
The Zanu PF Government, he said, was walking the talk and delivering results to the people.
“As we continue to explore avenues to deliberately empower the youth, who are our future leaders, the Second Republic has appointed many young people into strategic areas of governance and decision-making.
“This is designed to create an ideologically sound and experienced cadership in all facets of our society. These young people are performing incredibly well so far. Well done”.
President Mnangagwa shares a lighter moment with an exhibitor during a tour of stands before the launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund in Harare yesterday in the company of Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (second from right), Youth Empowerment, Development, and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire (left). Also present was Harare Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Charles Tawengwa (wearing black cap behind Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri)
President Mnangagwa said his administration had implemented tangible youth empowerment projects such as the piggery, heifer and poultry schemes, among others.
In addition, land for both agriculture and housing has been availed and is being distributed to ensure that youths can run profitable agricultural businesses and also build decent homes.
“Hard honest work pays, while focus, discipline and professionalism in all business endeavours are indispensable values for the success and prosperity of our nation. This culture should be preached and entrenched among you, our young people,” he said.
The President urged youths in business to be good citizens in the management of the environment and communities.
To this end, the Youth League and the Ministry of Youth were called upon to be more visible during National Clean Up days set aside as the first Friday of every month.
“I hardly see you. In the spirit of Ubuntu, ‘I am because we are’, I exhort the youth of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe, to uphold the culture of voluntarism and community service in aid of the vulnerable, elderly and disabled,” said President Mnangagwa.
Youth-owned businesses should embrace innovation, emerging technologies and deployment of ICTs to create new product lines, and penetrate value chains and global markets, which have become essential ingredients to realise business success.
Yesterday’s event was held under the theme, “Fuel Youth: Ignite the Future.”
It was attended by Defence Minister Oppah Muchiguri-Kashiri, Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tinoda Machakaire, Zanu PF Politburo members, Presidential Investment Advisor Dr Paul Tungwarara, development partners, and senior Government officials.
Young Women 4ED follow proceedings at the launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund in Harare yesterday
(From left, foreground) Cdes Mike Bimha, Elifasi Mashaba, Munyaradzi Machacha, Lovemore Matuke and Jenfan Muswere join a bumper crowd of youths who turned up in their thousands for the launch of the Presidential Youth Empowerment Fund in Harare yesterday
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