Use idle land to fight unemployment: Minister

Manicaland Provincial Affairs Minister Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba has called for the utilisation of idle land to curb unemployment.
Speaking at the First Capital Bank young farmers’ market fair in Mutare on Wednesday, Dr Gwaradzimba said youths should stop the dependency syndrome and take up agriculture as business and a means for survival.

“Farming is the key to our economic endeavour and the biggest employer in Zimbabwe, hence our young farmers need to take it seriously,” she said.
“I would like to encourage the youth to work hard and to have a vision to expand and diversify their farming business. As business people, we should seriously learn to invest the profits so as to grow the farming business.”

Minister Gwaradzimba encouraged young farmers to form cooperatives to make it easier for Government and its partners to provide assistance.
First Capital availed a US$50 000 facility under the fourth phase of the Young Farmers Club entrepreneurship and empowerment project. First Capital managing director Mr Samuel Matsekete pledged more assistance for the youths.

“We want to make a difference in the lives of the youths now and all generations to come,” he said.
“Our partnership with ZFU is perfect because it has managed to help many youths. We want to continue contributing towards the development of young people in a sustainable manner.”

ZFU executive director Mr Paul Zakariya called for close co-operation between farmers and Government to ensure the growth of the agricultural sector.

“As ZFU we do not believe in income generation, but wealth creation,” he said. “There is no free capital.
‘‘The capital we have received from First Capital should benefit a lot of farmers so those who receive funds should pay back so that more people can benefit.”