Tendai Matunhu

In a meeting with representatives of youths this week, State owned enterprises highlighted the opportunities that the former can unlock.

The parastatals promised to help President Emmerson Mnangagwa to achieve his set national economic development goals which is to attain a middle income status economy by 2030.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Director for Domestic Tourism and Strategic Research, Sophie Ziregwa told the youths that they have employment opportunities for them in tour guiding. She also said that there was need for fluent Mandarin speakers and asked the representatives to identify youths with skills in that language.

Mandarin is spoken in China which is one of the biggest source markets for tourists in the world. Recently in May this year, 343 Chinese business persons, leisure and media tourists arrived in Zimbabwe and they are contributing a lot to the country’s GDP. Zimbabwe expects tourist arrivals from China to double from 19 000 which was recorded last year and 5000 in 2016, targeting to have over 100 000 Chinese visitors by 2025.

Ms Ziregwa said the youths could also assist them in digital marketing and to protect the country’s image that is being attacked on social media, as this would discourage tourists from visiting Zimbabwe.

Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) Head Human Resources and Administration, Aulla Goba told the youths that they had opportunities in the procurement. He, however, said the youths had to meet requirements needed by Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ).

Telecel Zimbabwe Legal Advisor, Peter Mudzimiri urged the youths to assist them in marketing Telecel and Telecash services.

Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (ZISCO) Steel Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Alois Gowo said when the company reopens they will employ about 3 000 youths most of whom would be apprentices. He said the company was working with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to make sure it reopens as soon as possible.