'Come to build your own industries and revive the economy' of the city, BYO youth urged

Published: 10 June 2013

YOUTH Development, Indiginisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has implored Bulawayo youths to take the city's economy back to its feet.

Addressing youths during the handover of the common facility centre and tool kits to Sizinda youths at the suburb's vocational training centre on Thursday, Minister Kasukuwere said the youths should not wait for people from other areas to come and revive the once vibrant Bulawayo economy.

"You should rise up to the occasion, you should come to build your own industries and revive the economy of this city," said Minister Kasukuwere.

He said it was the young whites, who at that time constructed Bulawayo's factories.

"If the whites can do it then why can't we do it as well? You the youths can do it as well," said Minister Kasukuwere.

He said his ministry was available to assist all the enthusiastic youths who wanted to start their own business initiatives.

"You should spend time looking for opportunities to start your own business empires. You should stand up and do something and if you become a success, it will translate to the success of the city of Bulawayo," said Minister Kasukuwere.

He said his ministry also needed to design and implement innovative strategies and programmes to promote empowerment opportunities for the young people.

"The time is now for young people and indigenous Zimbabweans to take charge and control the country's economy. In Zimbabwe, youth unemployment remains one of our major challenges hence these many initiatives to involve the youths in the mainstream economy," said Minister Kasukuwere.

He said there was a need to capacitate the youth to start and successfully manage their own enterprises.

Speaking during the same event Bulawayo Metropolitan Governor and Resident Minister Cain Mathema pledged to avail commercial stands to enterprising city youths.

"You should come through my office and I will assist you with land to start your own businesses," said Governor Mathema.

He said youths should desist from crying foul that Bulawayo companies were folding up but should instead see it as an opportunity to start their own businesses.

"If you want land for your own businesses be rest assured that you will get it. There is a need to empower you because you are the future," said Governor Mathema.

He said the youths should be the soldiers of economic freedom in the same manner the freedom fighters fought to liberate the country.

"It is also my wish that when graduates are being capped, they should be given cheques to start up their own businesses after having submitted their proposals because we are sick and tired of this employee mentality," said Governor Mathema.

Heavy carpentry machinery worth more than $30 000 was handed over to the youths, as part of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) skills for youth employment and rural development initiative.
- TC