MARTIN MAWAYA
SHURUGWI-Shurugwi North legislator Joseph Mpasi has urged youths to embrace ongoing empowerment projects, saying the initiatives are designed to strengthen entrepreneurship skills and improve livelihoods.
Mpasi made the call on Sunday during the Shurugwi North Youth Indaba held at Tongogara growth point, where thousands of young people gathered to engage, and interact on how to sharpen their skills.
The indaba aimed to boost youth entrepreneurship while creating a platform for interaction with government departments, the private sector and development agencies.
“This indaba is meant to end the donor-dependence syndrome and push our youths to become active players in the district’s economy,” Mpasi said, adding that the constituency needs focused and disciplined young people who can build their communities.
He said his office had rolled out several hands-on programmes for youths and women, including welding, carpentry, and building training as part of efforts to produce self-reliant communities.
Mpasi added that the interventions were already helping to reverse the district’s tainted image as a hotspot for machete gangs and drug abuse.
“Shurugwi was once known for machete gangs, but now young people themselves condemn such behaviour. This means our engagement and training programmes are bearing fruit, as our youths are more involved in production than in drugs and crime. This confirms that we are moving in the right direction as we work towards Vision 2030,” he said.
Shurugwi District Coordinating Committee chairperson Shepherd Mudhara said the constituency’s empowerment programmes were not cosmetic, but aligned with national efforts to strengthen resilience against climate shocks, improve social protection and promote self-sustenance.
“As youths, you have a critical role in shaping the future of our party and country. You are the driving force behind our success, and we must create space where you can express yourselves freely, without fear or marginalisation. But you must be disciplined and focused,” Mudhara said.
He urged the party leadership to equip young people with the skills, knowledge and values needed to drive national development.
Chiltren district youth chairperson Patience Jakasi applauded the constituency leadership for bringing decision-makers and empowerment programmes to the grassroots.
“We had never seen this level of engagement in this constituency. Today we are sitting with key ministries and business leaders, sharing ideas and accessing opportunities we once thought were reserved for top officials,” Jakasi told The Midweek Watch on the sidelines of the indaba.
