By Staff Reporter
HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa says the Presidential Youth Fund is beginning to deliver sustainable economic opportunities for young Zimbabweans, with beneficiaries now running income-generating projects that are generating revolving capital for expansion to grassroots structures.
Addressing the 131st Ordinary Session of the Zanu PF Central Committee in Harare on Thursday, President Mnangagwa said youth empowerment remains central to the Second Republic’s drive to achieve inclusive economic development and Vision 2030.
He said Government’s empowerment and wealth creation programmes were anchored on the belief that political independence must be complemented by economic independence.
“Under the Presidential Youth Fund, youth now run projects generating revolving funds which are able to self-generate additional resources for deployment right down to the district and ward levels,” Mnangagwa said.
He added that financial inclusion programmes targeting youths, women and war veterans were being expanded as part of broader efforts to improve livelihoods and build self-reliance.
The President said the country’s new empowerment models were already producing “transformational impacts”, with young people increasingly participating in productive sectors of the economy alongside women and war veterans.
He said Zimbabwe’s economic growth in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, tourism, energy and information communication technologies was creating employment opportunities while modernising the economy.
“Our empowerment and wealth creation programmes are premised on the principle that political independence without economic independence is incomplete,” he said.
Mnangagwa also challenged party structures to make grassroots cells centres for discussions on economic empowerment and development, saying communities should play a greater role in identifying opportunities that improve household incomes.
He said Government would continue strengthening implementation of development programmes while scaling up social protection initiatives as the country advances towards Vision 2030.
The Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme was launched in March 2025 with a US$2 million revolving fund to finance youth-led income-generating projects across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces.
At its launch, Mnangagwa said the fund would support productive enterprises through a revolving financing model rather than direct cash handouts, with emphasis on entrepreneurship, accountability and sustainability.
The programme has since expanded beyond financing to include the distribution of productive assets such as construction equipment, agricultural machinery and mining equipment to youth-led provincial consortiums, with beneficiaries expected to generate revenue that can be reinvested into additional community projects.
Special Presidential Advisor Paul Tungwarara, one of the key implementers of the Presidential empowerment programmes, has previously said implementation structures were strengthened this year to improve transparency, monitoring and accountability while ensuring empowerment resources reach intended beneficiaries more efficiently.
