The Ministry Core Values exist to define how we work and serve. They set the standard for staff conduct, team culture, and service delivery so every action reflects Zimbabwe’s interests and public trust.
Desire or love for one’s country (Zimbabwe first).
State of being transparent, accountable, responsible, and answerable for one’s and our collective action.
Leveraging each other’s experiences and strengths and working inclusively with love and respect.
Initiating and embracing new methods or ideas for enhancing service delivery timeously.
Honesty, trustworthiness, steadfastness, and adherence to moral and professional principles.
MINISTER
DEPUTY MINISTER
PERMANENT SECRETARY
Supports youth entrepreneurship through policy creation, funding management, business incubation, and creating economic opportunities for youth in various sectors
Learn MoreEncourages national identity and civic responsibility among youth through career guidance,
Provides youth with technical and entrepreneurial skills through vocational training, public-private partnerships, and curriculum development to improve employability and self-sufficiency.
Focuses on youth entrepreneurship by developing policies, providing technical support, creating business hubs, and establishing public-private partnerships for youth empowerment.
The Ministry, with support from SNV is establishing rabbit cluster for youth in Murewa District. The rabbit cluster is being supported through distribution of rabbit does and bucks to youth. The rabbit does and bucks are being sourced from existing Murewa rabbit farmers. The cluster will also have a meat company that will be responsible for aggregating rabbit for slaughter and supplying the meat to the market.
The Ministry is establishing a milk aggregation centre at the Umguza Vocational Training Centre in Umguza District. Once the facility is completed, the centre will function as a parlour-based aggregation point where milk from nearby youth farmers will be collected, consolidated, and prepared for onward delivery to milk processors. The centre is intended to improve the quality and consistency of milk supply by supporting more reliable collection systems, encouraging young farmers to sell through an organized structure, and helping ensure that milk is handled in a more hygienic and standardized way before being transported to processors.
The Skills for Youth and Women Employability and Productivity (SYWEP) Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training with financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and technical implementation support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The project focuses on three priority value chains, one of which is horticulture, to be implemented at Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre (VTC). Good progress has been recorded in establishing the horticulture project. The foundation works for the 100 000 litre water tank have been successfully completed, and the site is now ready for the concrete pouring stage. Once completed, the water tank will enhance the project's irrigation capacity, ensuring a reliable water supply to support year-round horticultural production.
The Ministry in partnership with ZimTrade, continues to promote youth-led agricultural transformation through the establishment of a peas production cluster in Mutoko District. The initiative is centred at Tabudirira Vocational Training Centre (VTC), which serves as the cluster’s aggregation and coordination hub. The programme was introduced to empower young farmers through commercial peas production, enabling them to participate in high-value agricultural value chains while creating sustainable livelihoods and income-generating opportunities. Through the cluster model, young farmers are benefiting from improved access to technical support, practical training, market linkages and shared production resources. To support the initiative, Tabudirira VTC established a half-hectare demonstration plot dedicated to peas production. The plot serves as a practical learning platform where young farmers are exposed to recommended agronomic practices and modern farming techniques aimed at improving productivity and profitability. The cluster comprises six young farmers operating within the Tabudirira area. At Chitora 2 Irrigation Scheme, four young farmers jointly cultivated 1.2 hectares of peas and have already commenced harvesting. The crop is expected to yield approximately 10 tonnes this season, reflecting the success of the young farmers' efforts and the effectiveness of the cluster approach. In addition, two other young farmers each established one hectare of peas, further increasing the cluster’s production capacity. Collectively, the six young farmers have cultivated three hectares of peas, with total production projected to reach approximately 18 tonnes during the current season. The anticipated harvest demonstrates the potential of youth participation in commercial agriculture and highlights the capacity of young people to contribute meaningfully to food security, economic growth and rural development. Through access to training, markets and production support, the young farmers are transitioning from subsistence farming to commercially oriented agricultural enterprises. The Mutoko peas cluster further showcases the evolving role of Vocational Training Centres in empowering young people and driving community development. Beyond skills training, centres such as Tabudirira VTC are becoming incubation hubs for entrepreneurship, innovation and agricultural production. Through strategic partnerships and practical empowerment programmes, the Ministry remains committed to equipping young people with the skills, resources and opportunities needed to participate actively in Zimbabwe's economic development agenda.
Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre (VTC) commissioned an 80kVA solar power plant in the Midlands Province to improve practical training, reduce electricity costs, and host national events. The US$61,000 renewable energy project was funded through a US$58,500 EmpowerBank loan, with an additional US$2,500 used for security fencing. The solar facility was officially commissioned on July 2, 2026, by the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Hon. Tino Machakaire. It stands as the largest solar installation at any VTC in the Midlands Province, allowing the institution to transition toward affordable and sustainable energy.
Update
Sekai Manyere in GOKWE GOVERNMENT, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and Uncommon.Org, has launched an Artificial Intelligence, Digital and Innovation Hub at Nyamuroro Vocational Training Centre in Gokwe North. Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Tinoda Machakaire, who was represented by Deputy Minister Kudakwashe Mupanhanga, said the hub would provide young people in rural communities with access to digital skills, artificial intelligence, coding, innovation and opportunities in the digital economy. “The launch is more than the opening of a training facility,” he said. “It opens the gateway through which young people in rural Zimbabwe can access digital skills, artificial intelligence, coding, innovation, and the opportunities of the digital economy.” In a speech read on his behalf, Minister Machakaire said the facility was the first AI Digital Innovation Hub established by the ministry in a rural area, adding that its location in Gokwe North was deliberate. “Zimbabwe’s digital transformation must not be confined to our cities and urban centres. “It must reach our villages and rural communities so that no young person is left behind because of where they live,” he said. The hub has already enrolled 52 young people from Gokwe North who have commenced lessons. “To our 52 pioneer learners, this hub belongs to you. As the first cohort, you have been given an opportunity that many before you did not have. I urge you not to come merely to obtain certificates, but to acquire skills that can transform your lives,” he said. Minister Machakaire said the initiative came at a time when Zimbabwe was seeking to address youth unemployment and inactivity. He said approximately 49,2 percent of young people were not in education, employment or training, according to the 2025 ZimCET survey. The Minister explained that the national target is to reduce this proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training from 49,2 percent to 15 percent by 2030. He urged development partners, the private sector and communities to support similar initiatives. “One hub is an important beginning, but it cannot be the end; we need more partnerships, more young people trained, more rural communities connected to the digital economy,” said Minister Machakaire. UNDP resident representative Dr Ayodele Odusola said the project was designed as an opportunity platform to generate employment, entrepreneurship and locally relevant solutions. “Success of what we are doing today is not measured by the number of computers that have been installed, but the capabilities that are going to emerge from here, including the employment opportunities that are going to be created, the entrepreneurs that are going to be trained and the locally relevant solutions that are going to be introduced to address challenges that are facing our communities across Zimbabwe,” he said. He said digital innovation should reach communities across the country rather than remain concentrated in urban centres. “Access to digital innovation cannot be limited to all our major urban centres, but it should be something that is accessible to all communities across all 10 provinces in Zimbabwe,” he said. Dr Odusola said the next phase would focus on expanding skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation. “Today’s commissioning is just the beginning; it’s not an end, so the next phase is for us to move from infrastructure to utilisation and also moving to expanding skills, innovating, training entrepreneurs and generating jobs,” he said. UNDP funded the renovation of the facility and procurement of 32 laptops, interactive boards and other equipment, while the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services provided 20 additional laptops. Uncommon.Org deployed instructors to support the programme. Director Michelle Gwatiringa said the project demonstrated that innovation belonged to every community. “Together, we are demonstrating that innovation is not confined to our cities, but it belongs to every community across Zimbabwe,” she said.
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Ranson Madzamba Thousands of young people are expected to converge in Harare for a Youth Empowerment Symposium to run from the 4th to the 5th of November this year. The symposium comes at a time when empowering young people with practical skills, knowledge and opportunities has become increasingly important in addressing unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship and preparing the next generation to contribute meaningfully to the country’s social and economic transformation and as contained in the National Development Strategy 2. The gathering is expected to bring together young people from diverse backgrounds, alongside key stakeholders to deliberate on opportunities for economic advancement, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation and youth participation in national development. By convening thousands of youths under one roof, the event provides an opportunity to create a shared platform where young people can engage with national leadership, exchange ideas and explore practical solutions to the challenges affecting their economic well-being. Well, beyond the speeches and formal proceedings, the symposium presents an opportunity to strengthen dialogue between young people and institutions responsible for youth empowerment and development. Such an engagement helps in ensuring that programmes and policies respond to the aspirations, needs and lived experiences of the country’s youth. The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, the organising ministry, has a central role in advancing initiatives that equip young people with relevant vocational skills, promote self-reliance and connect them to opportunities in the changing economic environment. Vocational training in particular remains an important pathway for young people seeking practical competencies that can be applied in formal employment, entrepreneurship and community-based enterprises. The symposium will indeed provide a platform to highlight the importance of entrepreneurship as a means of expanding economic participation. Our young people can be better positioned to turn innovative ideas into sustainable enterprises only if they have access to mentorship, business development support, financial literacy and appropriate funding mechanisms. Equally significant is the need to ensure that young people in rural communities, persons with disabilities and other groups who may face barriers to opportunities are included in empowerment initiatives. Inclusive participation helps in broadening the reach of skills development and economic opportunities. The gathering thus reinforces the importance of viewing young people not merely as future leaders, but as active partners in national development today. At a time when young people face challenges ranging from unemployment and limited economic opportunities to drug and substance abuse, mental health concerns and a rapidly changing digital landscape, the symposium offers an important space for dialogue, learning and collective problem-solving. It is an investment in human capital, leadership development and the creation of a generation equipped to navigate emerging challenges while identifying opportunities for growth. However, the significance of the symposium will ultimately be measured not only by the number of participants to attend, but also by the practical outcomes to follow. Commitments to be made during the gathering will be translated into sustained programmes that include mentorship, business incubation, career guidance and pathways to employment. Effective follow-up mechanisms will definitely be essential in ensuring that the discussions produce tangible benefits for young people. One of the key benefits of hosting the symposium is that it gives young people a platform to express their aspirations, concerns and expectations. Their participation ensures that conversations about youth development are informed by the realities they experience, rather than decisions being made without their input. It is indeed true that, anything for the youths without the youths is not for the youths. The event is crucial in nurturing leadership qualities, critical thinking, public speaking and decision-making skills. Through discussions and mentorship sessions the participants can gain practical knowledge that prepares them to assume leadership roles in their schools, workplaces, businesses and communities. The symposium connects aspiring entrepreneurs with experienced businesspeople, financial institutions and potential mentors. These connections help turn ideas into viable enterprises, create employment opportunities and encourage young people to become active contributors to economic growth. The event further promotes innovation by encouraging participants to explore technology-driven solutions to challenges in agriculture, education, healthcare, environmental protection and service delivery. Such an engagement helps in positioning young people not merely as beneficiaries of development programmes, but as innovators and partners in finding solutions. Beyond economic issues, the symposium provides an avenue for addressing social challenges affecting young people. Open and constructive discussions on drug and substance abuse, mental health, peer pressure, gender-based violence and responsible decision-making help participants access reliable information and identify support systems within their communities. The event is coming at a time when the country is currently planning to be part of the 2026 YouthConnekt Africa Summit to be held from the 25th to the 27th of November in Rwanda. Zimbabwe is in the bidding race with Zambia to host the 2027 YouthConnekt Africa Summit. The winner would be announced during the 2026 YouthConnekt Africa Summit in Rwanda. YouthConnekt Africa is a continental platform established to connect young people to economic opportunities, skills development, entrepreneurship, innovation, financial inclusion, mentorship and policy dialogue. The initiative was pioneered by the Government of Rwanda in 2012 and has since grown into a Pan-African movement supported by the African Union, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Development Partners and African Governments. The YouthConnekt Africa Summit is a flagship annual gathering of youth leaders, entrepreneurs, policymakers, development partners, investors, academia and private sector from across the continent. The summit provides a platform for showcasing innovations, sharing best practices, fostering partnerships and advancing youth development agendas. Zimbabwe has been an active participant in YouthConnekt Africa Summit activities and has consistently demonstrated commitment towards youth empowerment interventions. n Ranson Madzamba is the Director of Communication and Advocacy in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and vocational Training.
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Emmanuel Kafe and Sekai Manyere ZIMBABWE has intensified its bid to host the 2027 YouthConnekt Africa Summit, with the Government expressing confidence in the country’s capacity to stage the continental event and showcase opportunities for youth empowerment and entrepreneurship. Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tino Machakaire said Zimbabwe’s selection as one of the final two contenders reflected its commitment to youth development and readiness to host the summit. Speaking at an in-country assessment by the YouthConnekt Africa Secretariat in Harare, Minister Machakaire said the Government was prepared to provide the necessary support to ensure a successful event. “We view this visit as an important opportunity to demonstrate our national preparedness, institutional capacity and collective commitment to successfully hosting this continental event,” he said. Hosting the summit, he said, would enable Zimbabwe to showcase youth-led enterprises, innovations, and investment opportunities, while connecting young entrepreneurs to wider African markets. YouthConnekt Africa Senior Programmes Lead Mr Patient Ndizeye stated that the assessment team evaluated bids from five countries, with Zimbabwe and Zambia emerging as the final contenders. The team is assessing infrastructure, accommodations, venues, and logistical arrangements before submitting a technical report to the initiative’s co-chairs.
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