by Innocent Mujeri

The Chief Youth Programs Coordinator in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Nickros Kajengo has said the youths have an obligation to assist in the economic turnaround of the country instead of waiting for the Government to do everything for them.

In an interview with this publication yesterday, Kajengo said it was high time youths take seriously President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for them to complement Government’s efforts to create employment for themselves and assist in the revival of the country’s economy.

Kajengo said the youths should now embrace President Mnangagwa’s approach to politics, which is not about “politics but now politics and economics”.

Kajengo said the economy of the country was hinged on agriculture. He said the youths were in a drive to rebrand agriculture to be an attractive business which could create employment.

“We are in the process of rebranding agriculture to be an attractive business that can create employment for youths. We want our youths to know that it is through agriculture that they can prosper in life. As the vanguard of the nation, it is therefore our duty to provide for the country through agriculture,” said Kajengo.

Kajengo further said, as the youths, they were guided by three principles which are patriotism, discipline and entrepreneurship. It is against these principles that the youths are assisting the government in economic revival.

Kajengo also revealed that soon after the COVID 19 pandemic, his office will be embarking on a young farmers profiling exercise so that they will have a database of who is doing what and where.

The profiling exercise is expected to start in Mashonaland West province and cascade to other provinces.

Kajengo also said they were targeting at least 4 000 successful farmers in each province to ensure food security in the country.

To achieve their target, Kajengo said they were working closely with various seed and fertilizer houses as well as other Agritex officers.

Meanwhile, Mashonaland West Youth in Farming Ambassador, Tatenda Masenda said as their fathers fought in the liberation struggle, the youths of today must also fight in the economic struggle.

Masenda said youths must not shun agriculture as it was the only business that could feed the nation as well as creating thousands of jobs.

“Gone are the days where one will go in towns in search of a job as one can find employment on the farms. As youths, we are urging each other to productively utilise land and create employment for ourselves and others,” said Masenda.

Addressing youths at ZANU PF headquarters in 2018, President Mnangagwa implored youths to positively contribute to the country’s development.

Currently the Government is undertaking a land audit and more youths are expected to get agricultural land after the audit.