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Preparing ground for future leaders

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ZIMBABWEANS today join hands in commemorating President Robert Mugabe’s 90th birthday being held under the theme, ‘Zim-ASSET: Growing the Economy for Youth Empowerment and Employment’.
Last year, the commemorations were held under the theme, ‘Youth Indigenisation, Empowerment, Development and Employment Creation’.
The 21st February Movement was established in 1986 to encourage the youth to emulate the selfless character and leadership qualities of President Mugabe.
He has been a champion of various economic empowerment programmes which have resulted in youths benefitting from them.
Some of the policies advancing youth development that have been put in place by Government include the Land Reform Programme under which youths have received land and are now playing an integral part in the agriculture sector.
Through the Indigenisation and Empowerment Act, youths have been given room to become employers by establishing their own entities in mining and manufacturing among other sectors.
Other policies introduced to give guidance to youths are the child parliament whereby Cabinet ministers interact with the young generation and share notes on governance issues.
This year’s theme for the 21st February Movement is a clear indication of how Government is committed to seeing youths who are the country’s future leaders play a key role in the development of the economy.
The theme is significant as it promotes the continued empowerment of youths.
The economic blueprint Zim-ASSET from which the theme is being derived was launched during ZANU PF’s 14th People’s Conference held last year in Chinhoyi.
ZANU PF, through the blueprint, seeks to strategically align the promises it made to the people through its manifesto with those of Government to bring about cohesion and harmony.
The theme is in line with the efforts being made in Africa to develop youth as the period 2009 to 2019 has been termed the Decade for Youth Development in Africa.
In July 2011, President Mugabe challenged United Nations (UN) member states to institute policies that nurture and empower youths so that they play an integral role in the socio-economic and political affairs of their nations.
“While the high level meeting on youth is advocating the mainstreaming of youths into contributing to issues pertaining to central governance, it is of paramount importance the UN member states institute policies that will give proper orientation that will shape the youths to become responsible future leaders,” said President Mugabe at a meeting on youth.
Youths who have benefitted from the various economic empowerment programmes have applauded the 21st February Movement saying it provided them a platform to contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
Over the past years themes that have been used for the commemorations have bordered on the issues of empowerment and the need for youths to be responsible leaders.
In 2010 commemorations were held under the theme, ‘Promoting unity in defence of natural resources, cultural values and economic empowerment’.
The theme for 2011 was, ‘Youth for Indigenisation and Empowerment’, while 2012’s theme was, ‘Hupfumi Kuvadiki-Wealth to the Young’.

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