We’ll empower youths to lead, says President

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

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 President Mnangagwa poses with African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) president Cde Collen Malatji (second from right), ANCYL spokesperson Cde Wesley Kgang (far left), Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire (second from left) and African Youth Congress chairperson Cde Taurai Kandishaya (right) during a courtesy call at State House in Harare yesterday

Joseph Madzimure, Senior Reporter

ZIMBABWE remains committed to building a future where young people are empowered to lead, protect and develop the nation, the President has said.

Yesterday, the president of the African National Congress Youth League of South Africa, Cde Collen Malatji, paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare where he expressed gratitude for the President’s efforts to empower youths.

Cde Malatji is in the country to see how Zimbabwe is preparing to host the upcoming International Youth Summit on Land and Economic Freedom, which will be held in Harare from May 23 to 26 this year and is expected to draw youths from 75 countries.

Writing on his X handle, President Mnangagwa said his discussions with the ANC Youth League focused on Zimbabwe’s youth empowerment policies on land access, entrepreneurship and economic inclusion.

“Our discussions also laid the foundation for the upcoming International Youth Summit on Land and Economic Freedom to be held in Harare from May 23 to 26, 2025,” said President Mnangagwa.

Cde Malatji hailed the President, who is also the SADC Chairperson, for spearheading youth empowerment programmes.

“One of the issues we discussed with the President is how they survived the Government of National Unity in 2008. As you are aware in South Africa we are facing that challenge now where we have invited different political parties to come and formulate a Government of National Unity,’’ he said.

Cde Malatji said President Mnangagwa was excited to see youths from Zanu PF and ANC working together.

“He told us to continue working together and said our future is bright,” he said.

Cde Malatji also said he was impressed by how the Government was supporting the youth to participate in the mainstream economy.

“On the issue of land, I have seen there is progress, I witnessed President Mnangagwa giving farming equipment to the youth on Wednesday.

“The youth are expected to return the country to its Sadc food basket status and secure Zimbabwe in terms of food supply,” he said.

The ANCYL leader commended Zimbabweans for taking the issue of land seriously.

“We are also here to learn how the party and the State operate. We are happy to hear that the role of the State is to implement the resolutions of the party made at conferences.

“The party and the Government are not separate,” he said.

Further, Cde Malatji said, they also discussed the Africa Youth Congress which they are organising with the Zimbabwean youth leadership.

“We are here to set up a strong team to organise this congress and ensure it is a success.

“We are going to travel to all SADC countries and some parts of Africa meeting youths and sharing the same vision and objectives such as those of Zanu PF,” he said.

Cde Malatji challenged Zimbabweans who are resident in South Africa to come back home and work with the Government instead of organising unnecessary protests in foreign lands.

The chairperson of Africa Youth Congress, Cde Taurai Kandishaya, said preparations are going-on well.

“We are winding up our preparations working together with our South African counterparts,” he said.

The visit highlights the positive relationship between the ANC Youth League and the Zanu PF Youth League.

President Mnangagwa has been actively promoting youth empowerment through various initiatives, including the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme, which aims to provide opportunities for young Zimbabweans to contribute to the country’s development.

The ANCYL delegation witnessed the handover of over 72 high-tech tractors and 10 combine harvesters valued at US$7,4 million in Hatcliffe,Harare, on Wednesday to youth agricultural groups from various provinces, a programme which is being championed by President  Mnangagwa.

The handover is a follow-up to the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme that was  launch recently.