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 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.
President E.D Mnangagwa presided over the ground breaking ceremony of the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Youth Service and Vocational Training Centre at Igava in Marondera. The facility serves as a model for modern youth training centres. It combines technical skills development with practical rural enterprise, showcasing the government's strategy to turn training centers into economic hubs. The Igava facility features upgraded infrastructure alongside a dedicated Village Business Unit equipped with solar-powered borehole technology, drip irrigation, and fishponds. Designed to offer hands-on training in trades such as agriculture, technical crafts, and entrepreneurship, the centre empowers rural youth with industry-relevant qualifications. By equipping young people to build sustainable livelihoods, the Igava centre supports Zimbabwe’s broader Vision 2030 objectives for inclusive economic development.
The Joshua Mqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo National Youth Service and Vocational Training Centre, located near St. Joseph's in Kezi (Matobo District), is a major government project designed to honor the legacy of the late Vice President and "Father Zimbabwe," Dr. Joshua Nkomo. Situated in his ancestral home area, the multimillion-dollar facility was established to decentralize education and bring technical and vocational training directly to rural communities in Matabeleland South. The centre integrates practical technical skills training with the National Youth Service program. Learners receive hands-on instruction in trades such as carpentry, building, welding, and entrepreneurship, alongside civic and national service education. This dual approach aims to foster discipline, civic responsibility, and self-reliance, equipping young Zimbabweans with industry-relevant skills to build sustainable livelihoods or launch their own enterprises. Featuring modern infrastructure—including classroom blocks, technical workshops, administrative blocks, student hostels, and support facilities—the institution serves as a crucial hub for youth empowerment. By creating local opportunities for skills development and employment, the centre aligns with national development goals (Vision 2030) to reduce rural-urban disparities and promote sustainable economic growth throughout the region.
Update
Story by Chikomborero Kanyemba GOVERNMENT has launched the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund in Manicaland Province, expanding access to loans through EmpowerBank to help young entrepreneurs establish and grow businesses under the Second Republic’s youth empowerment programme. The provincial rollout follows the launch of the national US$1 million fund during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in April. Young entrepreneurs in Manicaland are already benefiting from the facility, using the loans to expand operations, create jobs and invest in new business opportunities. Director of Fries Agricultural Enterprises, Mr Raymond Nyamuzinga, said the funding had enabled him to scale up his poultry business. “I started my company in 2019 after receiving funding from EmpowerBank. This year, following the launch of the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund, I secured another loan to expand my poultry business. So far this year, I have sold a cumulative total of 20 000 layers in different batches. I currently have 6 000 layers in production and have employed 22 young people,” he said. Mac Fencing Chief Executive Officer and loan beneficiary, Ms Kundai Mumera, said the funding had strengthened the company’s production capacity. “The loan has enabled us to expand our fencing manufacturing and supply business. We have increased our raw material stocks, improved production and are pleased to see the business continuing to grow,” she said. Another beneficiary, Mr Alfred Chimwata, Director of Chimwata A Investments, said the fund had enabled him to turn an idea into a viable business. “I had the vision but lacked the capital to get started. When I heard about the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund, I applied through EmpowerBank and received funding. My goal is to install Starlink kits in schools so that children in rural areas have the same access to the internet and learning opportunities as those in urban areas,” he said. EmpowerBank Board Chairperson, Mr William Chaitezvi, said the facility has generated strong demand from young entrepreneurs nationwide. “To date, EmpowerBank has received 537 applications nationally, valued at approximately US$1.39 million. Of these, 202 applications have been approved, resulting in loan disbursements of more than US$510 000. “In Manicaland Province alone, we have received 124 applications. So far, 53 loans have been disbursed, amounting to approximately US$141 900,” he said. Launching the provincial programme, Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire, said the initiative is designed to unlock the economic potential of young Zimbabweans. “The Government has committed US$1 million to the Youth Economic Empowerment Fund, which will be distributed across all ten provinces. Across the country, many young people have innovative ideas, valuable skills and the determination to succeed. What has often been missing is access to capital to turn those ideas into successful businesses. “This fund is more than financial assistance. It is an investment in productivity, inclusion and the future of Zimbabwe’s young people,” he said. Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, urged beneficiaries to make productive use of the facility. “Where opportunities exist, let us maximise them together. Our objective is to ensure that this fund delivers measurable and lasting benefits throughout the province. I urge young people to embrace this opportunity with discipline, commitment and a strong sense of responsibility,” he said. The Youth Economic Empowerment Fund targets Zimbabweans aged 18 to 35 with viable business proposals and is being rolled out nationwide through EmpowerBank to increase youth participation in economic development.
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Zimbabwe’s youthful population should be regarded as the country’s greatest asset Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister Tinoda Machakaire said yesterday. Speaking at the launch of the 2026 Demographic Futures Survey during World Population Day commemorations in Harare, Minister Machakaire said: “Today, Zimbabwe joins the global community to commemorate World Population Day 2026. We meet at a unique intersection of history. The global conversation shifts from merely counting numbers to making every individual count. For Zimbabwe, population metrics are not sterile figures on a balance sheet. Our population of over 17,2 million people carries a distinct, powerful signature: a median age of just 18,3 years. Over 60 percent of our citizens are young people. This is our demographic dividend,” he said. The Minister said Government remained committed to investing in young people through the recently approved National Youth Policy, which promotes economic empowerment, skills development, innovation, health and participation in national development. “Our youthful population is not a challenge to be managed; it is our greatest asset to be developed. We want young people to move from job seekers to job creators, from consumers of technology to innovators, and from beneficiaries of development to leaders of development,” he said. Minister Machakaire said Government was expanding vocational training centres, strengthening youth empowerment programmes and tackling drug and substance abuse while improving access to quality reproductive health information and services. The survey said young Zimbabweans remain optimistic about marriage and parenthood. It found that while most young Zimbabweans still desire to marry and have children, many cite challenges such as financial insecurity. The survey, conducted among more than 108 000 young adults aged 18 to 39 across 73 countries, was launched jointly by the Government of Zimbabwe and UNFPA under the theme: “Realising the hopes and aspirations of young people – today and for the future.” Presenting the findings, UNFPA Zimbabwe representative Ms Miranda Tabifor said the report provided unprecedented insight into how young people view their future and the factors influencing decisions on marriage and parenthood. “In Zimbabwe, as elsewhere, the path to a resilient and prosperous future lies in our ability to listen to young people and create the conditions where they can thrive. “The Demographic Futures Survey confirms that young people value partnership and parenthood, but their ability to realise these aspirations is hampered by systemic barriers. We must move beyond simply managing demographic shifts to actively investing in the capabilities, health and rights of our youth,” she said. The survey indicated that for the majority of young adults, financial security, stable employment, and emotional readiness are the top preconditions for becoming parents. It found that while 68 percent of respondents still regard marriage as an ideal and 80 percent desire to have children, economic realities are delaying those aspirations. According to the report, economic and housing constraints emerged as the biggest obstacle to parenthood, followed by a lack of a suitable partner and health and reproductive concerns. The report further revealed that financial security was the most important condition for parenthood, with 88 percent of respondents citing it as essential, followed by stable employment (87 percent) and emotional readiness (85 percent). Ms Tabifor said the findings should guide governments, policymakers, employers and development partners in designing policies that respond to the realities facing young people. Zimbabwe’s demographic profile reflects significant inequalities in reproductive outcomes. Although the country’s total fertility rate stands at 3,9 children per woman, urban women have an average of 3,1 children, compared to 4,6 among rural women. Women with higher education average 2,6 children, while those with only primary education average 5,1, highlighting the influence of education, opportunity and choice on family size. United Nations Resident Coordinator Ms Rosemary Kalapurakal said Zimbabwe stood at a defining demographic moment and urged policymakers to use the survey findings to shape investments in young people. “When we talk about numbers and population, we are actually talking about people. We are talking about their dreams, opportunities, choices and indeed the future of this nation. If we are serious about realising the hopes and aspirations of young people, we must first listen to them, understand their concerns and allow that evidence to shape the decisions we make.”
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Youth Service Zimbabwe (YSZ) graduate trainees are providing assistance at the Beitbridge Border Reception Centre for individuals returning to Zimbabwe. This support forms part of the Repatriation Programme and aims to ensure a smooth, safe, and well-coordinated reception process. The YSZ graduate trainees are working alongside relevant officials and partner teams to carry out various duties during the programme. Their duties include offering assistance to returning persons, supporting reception and orientation, assisting with documentation and coordination where required, and promoting order and effective service delivery at the reception point. In addition, the Ministry has an information desk at the border entry point, where young people can access information about the Ministry and its programmes. Registration is also open for empowerment opportunities.
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