National Youth Empowerment Strategy Receives Green...

National Youth Empowerment Strategy Receives Greenlight

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

Cabinet has approved the National Youth Empowerment Strategy (2026–2030), a policy framework aimed at integrating young people into Zimbabwe’s mainstream formal economy through job creation, entrepreneurship, and targeted development programmes.

The strategy mandates Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Local Authorities, the private sector, and development partners to initiate deliberate programmes and projects to economically empower young people. It will also serve as a key implementation tool for the National Development Strategy 2 by mainstreaming youth issues into the national development agenda.

Speaking during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet briefing, Information minister, Jenfan Muswere said that the strategy was developed through extensive consultations with the private sector, development partners, and youth representatives, drawing on national legal frameworks such as the Constitution, the Zimbabwe Youth Council Act, and the National Youth Policy (2021). It targets both in-school and out-of-school youth, focusing on access to education, skills training, political participation, economic opportunities, recreational facilities, and protection from harmful practices.

“The proposed National Youth Empowerment Strategy is based on national legal frameworks that aim to promote youth empowerment. These include the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Youth Council Act, and the National Youth Policy (2021). The strategy was developed through extensive consultations with the Private Sector, Development Partners, and the youth to address the challenges that young people face.”

The plan is anchored on five main pillars: Economic Empowerment; Technology and Digital Transformation; Education and Skills Development; Governance; and Health and Wellbeing. These are supported by three cross-cutting pillars: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation; Gender Equality and Inclusivity; and Governance, Coordination and Partnerships.

Implementation will be guided by a Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, which will track the performance of policies and projects, with youth participation at every stage. A Communication Plan will raise public awareness and ensure transparency, using local languages and culturally relevant messaging to reach marginalised groups.

A Resource Needs and Mobilisation Plan has also been incorporated to secure the financial, human, and material resources necessary to implement the strategy, with a particular focus on supporting vulnerable and marginalised youth.

“The plan will incorporate local languages and culturally-relevant content to reach marginalized groups. The strategy is also complemented by a Resource Needs and Mobilisation Plan, which will identify and mobilize the necessary financial, human, and material resources to support various youth initiatives, including those for marginalized youth,” he added.