The Finance Ministry has made available ZWL$17 million for a relief fund to support youth-led businesses and civil society organisations.
Speaking in an online meeting between Finance minister Mthuli Ncube and Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry, the former said the fund is meant to capacitate the country`s youths.
“I am excited we will be able to do this time around and ZWL$17 million will go a long way to capacitate the youth,” said Ncube.
He added that the funds come in the form of a grant that the government is offering to support youth-led business initiatives.
“This really is a grant we just wanted to join in and support our youth to foster the future. What I really like about the youth in Zimbabwe is that they are very energetic and creative since most of them had a good education base and they have some skills to work and they’re entrepreneurial and what they are missing is support financially,” he said.
Coventry said they created two categories for applicants to access the fund.
“We have divided the youths into two groups which are businesses being run by young people and youth organisations that will be volunteering or will bring relief to different communities. These are the two specific areas that cut across all the youths in the nation and we will be putting together a specific relief fund,” she said.
“This relief is for Zimbabwean youths that can be directly accessed through the Ministry of Youths, we will also share with you more information on where and when to register for these grants so that you access the finances.”
