ILO Chief for Africa meets Zimbabwe's Minister of Youth Development, Indigenization and Empowerment

Faced with a daunting 300 000 school drop-outs every year, Hon. Nhema outlined the challenge faced by the country and the broad strategy being rolled by Government working together with the private sector and development partners. Over the years the dropouts have led to about 4 million lowly educated and unskilled people, largely youths and women dominating the informal economy.

The government has rolled an ambitious plan to train approximately 150 000 young people a year for self and or wage employment through a network of forty-eight (48) vocational training centres (VTCs). In partnership with the private sector and local master-crafts person, the Ministry has adopted an integrated approach to promote beneficiation and value-chain development for agro-based micro, small and medium enterprises. To support market linkages the Ministry is also putting in place at provincial level, youth career guidance centres to link youths to economic and market opportunities via ICTs.

In his response the Regional Director appreciated the comprehensive approach adopted by the Government of Zimbabwe and commended the success of the Skills for Youth and Rural Development being implemented in over thirty (30) districts with ILO support. He pointed out the need to integrate technical education as parts of the academic curricula as well ensure availability of affordable capital to translate skills into viable enterprises.

They discussed other issues of mutual interest between the Ministry and the ILO that included youth funds, community share ownership trusts, the possibility of involving youth in mining and tourism ventures, the role of micro and small enterprises and regional trade.