By Rudo Saungweme

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were developed by the United Nations (UN) underpin every initiative by Government policies in the Second Republic, Minister of Industry and Commerce has said.

The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu said this today at the launch of the Zimbabwe Youth SDGs Summit in Harare.

“Indeed the SDGs underpin almost every initiative and policy launched in the Second Republic such as The Transitional Stabilisation Program (TSP), the Zimbabwe National Development Industrial Policy (2019-2023) among other developmental policies, strategies and initiatives that we collectively pursue as a nation,” said the Minister.

Minister Ndlovu also said the key ingredient for nations to attain these goals is to domesticate them in the form of a national vision and economic blue prints. He indicated that the TSP program is centred on the developmental goals just like the SDGs.

“I am pleased to say that not only is our national vision sharing the same time horizon with the SDGs but also our TSP is heavily benchmarked on the global developmental goals,” he said.

The Minister said youths who were present at the Summit had taken it upon themselves to make sure they take part in the affairs of national development. He also said youths are important stakeholders and stockholders of the nation.

The Minister expressed dissatisfaction on the low presence of the youths in the manufacturing sector, stating that most of the youths are inclined to traditional businesses such as cross border trading.

“It is disheartening however to note that there is low presence of youths in the manufacturing sector. It would appear that most people are inclined to traditional businesses such as cross border trading, retailing and transport services such as taxis and kombis,” said the Minister.

Minister Ndlovu encouraged all youths to participate in the manufacturing sector to approach the Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe (ICDZ) with bankable proposals. ICDZ is a funding institution that falls under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce and it is responsible for funding all bankable projects in the manufacturing sector.

The SDGs are a bold, universal agreement to end poverty in all dimensions and craft an equal, just and secure world for people, planet and prosperity by 2030.