GOVERNMENT is targeting to empower the youth through offering small loans and vocational training in a bid to curb drug and substance abuse.
According to the 2024 third quarter Labour Force Survey conducted by the Zimbabwe Statistics Agency, an estimated 2,3 million youths out of a total population of 5,4 million are neither in education, employment nor training.
Speaking at the official opening of the National Youth Empowerment Symposium Sessions and Exhibitions in Harare yesterday, Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training deputy minister Kudakwashe Mupamhanga said the initiatives sought to address the drug and substance abuse menace.
“We are here to make sure that when we are talking about young people, we are not just talking about drug and substance abuse,” he said.
Mupamhanga said government initiatives were about uplifting young people and his ministry was focusing on vocational training centres, small loans for young people and youth service.
“There are scholarships available for young people. There are also loans in that space. There is mentorship in that space,” he said.
“We intend to grow this so that we increase youth participation. We hear more from you. And what we envisage is to have everybody and anybody who has anything to do with young people come into one place.”
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