HARARE- Government has reached out to over 200k youths through awareness campaigns and empowerment programmes as part of avoiding the trap of drug and substance abuse.
Speaking during the post cabinet briefing, Information minister Dr Jenfan Muswere said government is fully aware that empowerment programmes play a pivotal role in transforming young citizens to be productive.
“The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training reached out to 212,426 youths through awareness campaigns and empowerment programmes that included youth development leadership, financial literacy and entrepreneurship.
“Seventeen thousand three hundred and forty-nine (17 349) youths were empowered through programmes such as fish farming, the Mbire Goat project, the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme and financial literacy training through Empower Bank and Tonganyika Trust.”
Dr Muswere said President, Mnangagwa handed over tipper trucks purchased under the US$2 million Presidential Youth Fund to young entrepreneurs aimed at expanding businesses in sectors such as construction, mining and transport.
“In another milestone development 1 907 youths graduated under the Youth Service in Zimbabwe, while 1,844 inclusive of 70 survivors of drugs and substance use, are undergoing training.
“The line Ministries carried out campaigns against drug and substance abuse as follows with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education reaching out to 1 082 875 pupils; the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development engaging 24 364 young persons; through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development.
“While 305 youths benefited from Green Jobs.
“In addition, 662 heifers, 31,000 chicks, and 890,000 fingerlings were distributed under one of the ongoing Presidential Empowerment Scheme targeting the youths.”
