By 
Minister of Youth Empowerment Development and Vocational Training
This year’s National Youth Day celebrations celebrated on 21st of February annually will be held at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre and all is set for the national holiday celebrations, said Minister of Youth Empowerment Development and Vocational Training Tino Machakaire Monday.
Speaking to the media at a press conference about the preparations of the national holiday, Minister Machakaire said his ministry will join the rest of the nation in celebrating the National Youth Day.
“The day is celebrated on the 21st of February every year and has since been approved to be a national holiday to mark and reflect on issues affecting young people of our great nation, Zimbabwe”, Machakaire said.
“This year’s national celebrations are going to be held in Masvingo at Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre and His Excellency, the President, Cde E.D Mnangagwa will be our guest of honour”, he revealed.
Last year National Youth Day was celebrated in Matabeleland North. “Having the celebrations of the day in different provinces it will enable youths and Government to engage on community specific exchange programmes, provide young people with opportunities for ownership, accountability, responsibility and sustainability of initiatives while leaving no place and no one behind”, Minister Machakaire explained.
This year’s celebrations will run under the theme, ” Positioning Youth Empowerment And Development Towardw Achieving Vision 2030″.
The main purpose of the celebrations is to bring together Government and young people to engage on the potential of youth to participate in the economy and accelerate the achievement of Vision 2030.
The day has been identified as an opportune event that Government should invest in to celebrate with the young people taking stock of programmes and initiatives to inculcate values that our fore-bearers display for national development.
“As a way to embrace the devolution mantra, the national event is expected to be attended by more than 30 000 young people drawn from all the 10 provinces of our country”, Minister Machakaire elaborated.
The national event will maintain the principles of effective youth participation and all-inclusive participation of young people and again leaving no one behind.
The ministry is going to host a business forum on the 20th of February 2024 as a build-up to the commemorations at the venue. The business forum is going to be attended by more than 250 young business entrepreneurs drawn from various economic sectors such as Youth in Mining, Agriculture, ICT, Tourism, Sport & Arts to mention but a few.
The event will see youth excelling in various sectors being rewarded by Government.
Youth in enterprise, universities, colleges, local authorities, businesses, civic organisations and development partners will exhibit their programmes, activities and opportunities for youth.
The celebrations are crucial as they identify and unlock the socio-economic potential of youth through building the capacity of young people.They also increase awareness, commitment and investment in youth development initiatives, programs and projects.
He also said celebrations help us fulfil our quest to have an informed and empowered youth. They improve social cohesion and socio-economic participation of youths.
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