By Gamuchirai Tsokota
In a bid to bridge the unemployment gap in the country, Zimbabwe Opportunities for Youth Employment (OYE), with support from the Swedish Embassy and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation is embarking on programs to create employment and livelihood programs for 10 000 youth by year 2023.
Speaking to the Diplomat Weekly at the ZITF grounds, Mr. Tatenda Masengere project assistant for OYE asserted that the project is a good initiative targeted at the youth, one which helps them better their lives.
“We are targeting 10 000 out of school youths in Zimbabwe aged between 15 and 35 years and in terms of progress we are currently sitting at 8 000 people who have fully registered” said Masengere.
According to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) In 2018 Zimbabwe recorded 20 400 out of primary school drop outs.
While CZI 2019 indicated that capacity utilization was at 36.4% with limited opportunities for youth entry into the market due to lack of employability skills and low industry capacity utilization.
Masengere said the program emphasizes on matching the job market needs and youth skills, entrepreneurship development, life skills training, market linkages and business development. The organization also offers financial support, technical skills training, mentoring and leadership development.
“We encourage youths to register for the program and our selection criteria is divided into five segments which include being of the age between 15 and 35, coming from an underprivileged community, having a passion to succeed, if you did not finish your education or you finished but unemployed and having a small business in OYE targeted economic sector and motivated to grow it.
The initiative is operational in 10 districts across Zimbabwe namely Bulawayo Urban, Umzingwane, Matobo, Mangwe ,Murehwa ,Chikomba,Mutoko, Mutasa and Mutare.
