By Bernard Mutambudzi

In line with Government’s thrust of empowering the youth to be their own employers, a new vocational college has opened its doors today, Harare Post has learnt.

Officially opening the college over the weekend, Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Dr Ellen Gwarazimba said Government was keen to empower the youth to be self reliant.

“As Government, we want to make sure that we create an employer, the certificates you are going to attain should be hanged in your own workshops,” she said.

She said after completion of the 18 months duration, Government would avail starter-up capital for every student to pursue a project which is in line with his course.

Acting Principal, Petros Machivenyika said Knowstics Technical College in Bonda was a project based on development initiatives by Government to empower the youths. Currently the first group comprisesof youths ranging from the age of 18-35 years and there are 129 students.

 He said the idea was to empower youths with skills through hands on approach so that they take part in the development of Zimbabwe.  

“The students acquire general knowledge through training offered in both theory and practical lessons of a chosen craft. The technical skills training seeks to foster a new set of attitudes towards personal empowerment bringing balance between gender and society as a whole,” said Machivenyika.

 He said during their on job training, they would be reaching out to the nearby communal areas, schools, clinics, hospitals, business centers such as Checheche and Chipinge in Manicaland.  

He added that  the college is offering courses in Horticulture, Business Studies, Motor Mechanics and many others  and has boarding facilities for 130 students.

“Vocational training centre offers three main courses with the objective of equipping students with the skills that are on demand on the job market. The main thrust is to see students run their own indigenous small to medium businesses,” he said.