Ministry of Youth Development Indigenisation and Empowerment

Victoria Falls,youths are determined to actively participate in the tourism sector. Indications at a youth forum conducted by the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment, the Zimbabwe Youth Council and CABS, were that there was need for financial support for young people to establish businesses in the tourism sector which is currently dominated by foreigners. The business forum was meant to orient young people  about the application process of the Kurera/Ukondla Youth fund and the various opportunities which they can access through the fund. More than 130 young people gathered for this event at Chinotimba Community Hall. The young people were encouraged to form groups and associations and come  up with projects within the tourism sector.

PARTCIPATING BANK –CABS

1.0 Funding Criteria for the  Facility

The following criteria shall is  used to select beneficiaries of the scheme:

· Be aged between 18 and 35 years

· Be legally constituted in the form of a Private Business Corporation ,or any other corporate body. However, individual youths with viable projects may access the funds but will be expected to register within 3 months from the date of receipt of the loan.

· All projects must have potential to generate sustainable income for the project promoters and create employment for the other youths.

· Projects and services should be marketable

· Projects should preferably use locally available resources.

The Ministry of Youth Development ,Indigenisation and Empowerment joins the nation in celebrating the 32nd anniversary of its independence under the theme ‘Indigenisation and empowerment for social and economic transformation'. The Ministry recognises the active involvement of  indigenous people in the main stream economy as a backbone for ensuring a strong, vibrant and economically viable nation. It is therefore upon this background that the Ministry prides itself in fulfilling the aspirations of the freedom fighters, in their quest for political and economic freedom. The indigenisation and economic empowerment programme fulfils their hopes for a truly independent Zimbabwe, whose resources and economy will be controlled by the Zimbabweans.

The youth needs assessment approach which the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment in conjunction with CABS and Old Mutual have established will go a long way in enhancing youth empowerment.  The cheque handover  ceremony held at Manjolo Primary School  on the 14^th of April marked a new approach to youth empowerment as four  groups of young people witnessed   drastic transformation in their lifestyle as they each received lumpsums to the tune of $25 000 per group through the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund.