Empower the youths now, ZEHEST urges HH
By Ludia Ngwadzai
THE Zambian Empowerment Hub for Entrepreneurship and Skills Training (ZEHEST) says President Hakainde Hichilema’s pledge on inclusive development must now translate into increased youth empowerment grants, practical skills training and investment in climate-smart jobs.
ZEHEST executive director Clarence Muzyamba told The Mast in an interview that continuity in government programmes must protect past investments while creating space for young people, women, rural communities and persons with disabilities to participate in the economy.
“Building on existing infrastructure, policies and programmes would prevent the wastage of resources and ensure that projects already initiated were completed rather than abandoned,” he said.
Muzyamba said the presidential pledge must open significant opportunities for young people in entrepreneurship, skills development, the digital economy, agriculture and governance.
He urged the government to deliberately increase investment in young people and simplify access to empowerment funds so that resources reach communities across the country and not remain concentrated in Lusaka.
“Greater access to grants, loans and mentorship could enable young entrepreneurs to establish businesses in areas such as food production, tailoring, information and communication technology and agro-processing,” Muzyamba said.
He said his organisation was ready to complement the government by providing training and mentorship to young entrepreneurs.
Muzyamba said a certificate without a job was not enough, urging a skills-first approach through TEVET institutions and NGOs to provide practical training, mentorship and job linkages.
He urged young people to position themselves to lead new sectors of development such as climate change and environmental protection.
“Young people could play a leading role in climate-smart agriculture, waste management and renewable energy, describing green jobs as an important part of Zambia’s future,” he said.
Muzyamba also called for investment in practical trades such as plumbing, electrical work, carpentry, metal fabrication, tile fixing and paver laying to link youth to infrastructure projects.
He said information technology, communication skills, music and content creation were emerging areas with potential to absorb Zambia’s youthful population.
“More young people must be equipped to participate in the digital and creative economy because the digital space is Zambia’s next big employer,” he said.
He cited Magoye West in Southern Province, where inclusive development had delivered positive change.
“More skills centres, more CDF projects that work, more market linkages for farmers, and more youth engaged in productive work instead of idleness,” he said.
Muzyamba called for increased youth participation in governance, including Constituency Development Fund (CDF) committees and policy dialogue.
“We must move from being leaders of tomorrow to leaders of today. We need to see greater transparency and accountability in the allocation of CDF and empowerment funds,” he said.
