Time to unite govt, young people

TODAY, Zimbabwe commemorates the National Youth Day in Masvingo province. Below is an abridged speech by Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training minister Honourable Tinoda Machakaire ahead of today’s event.

The Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training ministry will join the rest of the nation in celebrating the National Youth Day.

The day is celebrated on February 21 every year and has since been approved to be a national holiday to mark and reflect on issues affecting young people of our great nation, Zimbabwe.

This year’s national celebrations are going to be held in Masvingo at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre and His Excellency, the President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa will be our guest of honour.

Last year, we celebrated our National Youth Day in Matabeleland North province.

Having the celebrations of the day in different provinces will enable youths and government to engage on community-specific exchange programmes, provide young people with opportunities for ownership, accountability, responsibility and sustainability of initiatives while leaving no place and no one behind.

This year’s celebrations will run under the theme Positioning Youth Empowerment and Development Towards Achieving Vision 2030.

The main purpose of this celebrations is to bring together government and young people to engage on the potential of youth to participate in the economy and accelerate the achievement of Vision 2030.

The day has been identified as an opportune event that government should invest in to celebrate with the young people, taking stock of programmes and initiatives to inculcate values that our fore-bearers display for national development.

As a way to embrace the devolution mantra, the national event is expected to be attended by more than 30 000 young people drawn from all the 10 provinces of our country.

The national event will maintain the principles of effective youth participation and all-inclusive participation of young people and again leaving no place and no one behind.

Let me be not hesitant to say it loud, that all is now set for this year’s edition of the National Youth Day commemorations.

Yesterday, we hosted a business forum as a build-up to the commemorations at the venue.

The business forum was attended by more than 250 young business entrepreneurs drawn from various economic sectors such as youth in mining, agriculture, ICT, tourism, sport and arts, to mention but a few.

The event saw youths excelling in various sectors being rewarded by government.

Youths in enterprise, universities, colleges, local authorities, businesses, civic organisations and development partners exhibited their programmes, activities and opportunities for youth.

All in all, let me say the celebrations are crucial as they identify and unlock the socio-economic potential of youths through building the capacity of young people.

They also increase awareness, commitment and investment in youth development initiatives, programs and projects.

The celebrations help us fulfil our quest to have an informed and empowered youth. They improve social cohesion and socio-economic participation of youth.

Let me also take this opportunity to thank the ministry for organising and contributing to the success of our National Youth Day commemorations.