Bernard Mutambudzi

President Mnangagwa yesterday encouraged members of the Youth League to visit Waterfalls Incubation centre as that would enable them to have an appreciation of projects they would want to partake in.

Addressing the ZANU–PF National Youth Assembly at party headquarters yesterday, President implored youths to acquire entrepreneurship skills that make them employers.

The President described the incubation centre as a key conduit that will drive the modernization and industrialization of the economy.

The centre, which specialises in equipping young people with entrepreneurial skills to start their own businesses, dovetails with the President’s Vision of transforming the economy into an upper middle income status by 2030.

The centre is equipped with 25 different technologies in food processing, engineering, brick making process, and paper processing.

It has capacity to accommodate 50 trainees per every intake.

The President said Government was aware of the role of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in transforming the lives of the youths.

“Go and visit Waterfalls and have an appreciation of how production and value addition of products helps the economy,” President said.

He said the country was now moving to education with production.

“Who is useful and wanted by the country, a grade seven person who can make chips or a graduate with PHD but cannot make chips,’ said the President.

He said the setting up of incubation centres across the country with each district having ten hectares of land for the youths would enable them to have projects suitable for different ecological climatic regions.

“The point is that we need to have education that is structured in a way that it fits into the industry`s needs,” said the President.

He urged the youths to be organised and be in groups and visit the Empowerbank and utilise the funds disbursed through such facility.

He said with devolution which was coming, it was important to replicate the incubation programme in all provinces to boost rural economies.

“As we implement devolution and rural industry systems, I invite the private sector to partner public sector in setting up similar start-up villages across the country,” said President Mnangagwa.

“To that end, we should aim to promote rural industrialisation through utilisation of natural resource endowments, abundant land and human capital in the various communal areas towards robust rural economies.

“We look forward to seeing more facilities such as this one being replicated in all the country’s 10 provinces as we endeavour to create an economic order with vast trade and investment opportunities. It is through such initiatives that we leap frog our economic development and improve the standard of living of our people. Let us therefore, work in unity of purpose to ensure this programme is a resounding success,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said launch of Incubation Centre came at the opportune time as Government intensified efforts to grow the economy.

He said Zimbabwe was keen to learn from the Indian experience.

India is renowned the world over for its vibrant and competitive SMEs and start-ups that have become the engine for its economic transformation.

“My Government adopted the business incubation concept to accelerate the development and growth of start-up businesses,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Thus, the Transitional Stabilisation Programme identifies business incubation as one of the key strategies for the sustainable growth and development of SMEs. We further envisage the development of more vibrant business linkages, greater market access, cluster development and business management training through this strategy.

“In the same vein, I call for greater collaboration and linkages between incubation hubs, research institutes, the academia and entrepreneurs in the design, development and commercialization of new products which address our socio-economic needs. The India-Africa Incubation Centre along with other similar facilities we have set up must result in the production of quality goods and services as well as accelerate our entry into new markets,” he said.

President Mnangagwa urged financial institutions to assist in facilitating, mentoring and growth of new SMEs and start-ups.

He said local authorities should also offer deliberate incentives to ensure accelerated development of SMEs.