Youths Urged to Turn Digital Skills into Economic Opportunities
Zimbabwean youths have been urged to transform their training into business ventures, job creation and economic growth.
Dumisani Ndlovu 
Gweru — Digital skills graduates have been urged to leverage their new competencies to build businesses, create jobs and drive community development, aligning with Zimbabwe’s vision to achieve an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Speaking at a certification and skills exhibition ceremony in Gweru, Chakuvimbisa Kagoro, Midlands Provincial Head in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, said digital proficiency is now vital for participating in the modern economy.
The ceremony celebrated 53 young people who completed digital skills training.
The initiative was a joint partnership between the Ministry’s Gweru District office, the Gweru Urban Vocational Training Centre (VTC) and Silveira House, a Jesuit Social Justice and Development Centre.
Kagoro praised Silveira House as an "all-weather friend" of the Ministry, highlighting its sustained commitment to youth empowerment.
He noted that the partnership provided essential resources for practical training, including advanced machinery, safety gear and raw materials.
He added that institutional oversight from Gweru Urban VTC Principal, one Mr. Matsivo, and his team ensured the community-based training met national standards.
"To the graduands, significant resources were invested and time from our trainers, materials from our partners and dedicated effort from Ministry staff and community leaders," Kagoro said.
"The long-term progress of our community and nation depends on how effectively you apply these skills," he said
Chakuvimbisa Kagoro, Midlands Provincial Head in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.
He urged graduates to view their certificates as a foundation for continuous learning rather than a final endpoint.
He advised aspiring entrepreneurs to leverage digital platforms for marketing, customer engagement and record-keeping, while encouraging job seekers to use their new skills to gain a competitive edge.
Kagoro also highlighted the importance of soft skills and emotional intelligence, noting that technical expertise alone does not guarantee long-term success.
"Beyond technical skills, your attitude and emotional intelligence are critical," he remarked.
"You must remain steadfast in pursuing your goals, maintaining hope even when facing obstacles," he said.
Challenging the graduates to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, he urged them to generate employment rather than rely solely on formal job markets.
He also announced that a new digital hub will open on September 9 to further decentralise access to technology and vocational training.
Closing his address, Kagoro called on the youth to use technology responsibly and cautioned against drug abuse, warning that it threatens both individual potential and national progress.
