Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub.
Digital inclusion, Innovation and Economic Empowerment.
2026 Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe-World Tourism Expo.
#YouthInTourism
Gokwe North gets AI Digital Innovation Hub.
Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub to Unlock Rural Youth Potential
1 253 students graduate in provincial skills revolution
Zimbabwe, Ethiopia youth unite for greener Africa.
Joshua Nkomo Youth Service and Vocational Training Centre takes shape
Marketing graduate is cultivating new vision in Zim’s agriculture sector.
MINISTRY OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT DEVELOPMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING AT ZAS || 29 AUGUST 2026.
Initiative to empower young women unveiled.
Manicaland youths to benefit from US$1 million empowerment fund.
Youthful population our greatest asset: Minister
Gokwe North gets AI Digital Innovation Hub.
Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub to Unlock Rural Youth Potential
1 253 students graduate in provincial skills revolution
Zimbabwe, Ethiopia youth unite for greener Africa.
Joshua Nkomo Youth Service and Vocational Training Centre takes shape
Marketing graduate is cultivating new vision in Zim’s agriculture sector.
MINISTRY OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT DEVELOPMENT AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING AT ZAS || 29 AUGUST 2026.
Initiative to empower young women unveiled.
Manicaland youths to benefit from US$1 million empowerment fund.
Youthful population our greatest asset: Minister
Youth Empowerment and
Development
Supports youth entrepreneurship through policy creation, funding management, business incubation, and creating economic opportunities for youth in various sectors
Youth Service in
Zimbabwe
Encourages national identity and civic responsibility among youth through career guidance, training programs, and public-private partnerships, facilitating placements in government and education.
Vocational Training and Skills Development
Provides youth with technical and entrepreneurial skills through vocational training, public-private partnerships, and curriculum development to improve employability and self-sufficiency.
Business
Development
Focuses on youth entrepreneurship by developing policies, providing technical support, creating business hubs, and establishing public-private partnerships for youth empowerment.
OVERALL PURPOSE
Ministry Core Values
The Ministry Core Values exist to define how we work and serve. They set the standard for staff conduct, team culture, and service delivery so every action reflects Zimbabwe’s interests and public trust.
Patriotism
Desire or love for one’s country (Zimbabwe first).
Accountability
State of being transparent, accountable, responsible, and answerable for one’s and our collective action.
Teamwork
Leveraging each other’s experiences and strengths and working inclusively with love and respect.
Innovation
Initiating and embracing new methods or ideas for enhancing service delivery timeously.
Integrity
Honesty, trustworthiness, steadfastness, and adherence to moral and professional principles.
OUR PRINCIPALS
Meet Our Principals
Hon. T. Machakaire (MP)
MINISTER
Hon. K. Mupamhanga (MP)
DEPUTY MINISTER
Mr S. Mhlanga
PERMANENT SECRETARY
DEPARTMENTS
Our Core Departments
Youth Empowerment & Development
Supports youth entrepreneurship through policy creation, funding management, business incubation, and creating economic opportunities for youth in various sectors
Learn MoreYouth Service in Zimbabwe
Encourages national identity and civic responsibility among youth through career guidance,
Vocational Training Centers
Provides youth with technical and entrepreneurial skills through vocational training, public-private partnerships, and curriculum development to improve employability and self-sufficiency.
Business Development
Focuses on youth entrepreneurship by developing policies, providing technical support, creating business hubs, and establishing public-private partnerships for youth empowerment.
Projects
Business Aggregation Centres- Murehwa District
The Ministry, with support from SNV is establishing rabbit cluster for youth in Murewa District. The rabbit cluster is being supported through distribution of rabbit does and bucks to youth. The rabbit does and bucks are being sourced from existing Murewa rabbit farmers. The cluster will also have a meat company that will be responsible for aggregating rabbit for slaughter and supplying the meat to the market.
Business Aggregation Centers-Umguza District.
The Ministry is establishing a milk aggregation centre at the Umguza Vocational Training Centre in Umguza District. Once the facility is completed, the centre will function as a parlour-based aggregation point where milk from nearby youth farmers will be collected, consolidated, and prepared for onward delivery to milk processors. The centre is intended to improve the quality and consistency of milk supply by supporting more reliable collection systems, encouraging young farmers to sell through an organized structure, and helping ensure that milk is handled in a more hygienic and standardized way before being transported to processors.
Kaguvi VTC Horticulture Project.
The Skills for Youth and Women Employability and Productivity (SYWEP) Project is being implemented by the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training with financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and technical implementation support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). The project focuses on three priority value chains, one of which is horticulture, to be implemented at Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre (VTC). Good progress has been recorded in establishing the horticulture project. The foundation works for the 100 000 litre water tank have been successfully completed, and the site is now ready for the concrete pouring stage. Once completed, the water tank will enhance the project's irrigation capacity, ensuring a reliable water supply to support year-round horticultural production.
Mutoko Young Farmers Peas Cluster
The Ministry in partnership with ZimTrade, continues to promote youth-led agricultural transformation through the establishment of a peas production cluster in Mutoko District. The initiative is centred at Tabudirira Vocational Training Centre (VTC), which serves as the cluster’s aggregation and coordination hub. The programme was introduced to empower young farmers through commercial peas production, enabling them to participate in high-value agricultural value chains while creating sustainable livelihoods and income-generating opportunities. Through the cluster model, young farmers are benefiting from improved access to technical support, practical training, market linkages and shared production resources. To support the initiative, Tabudirira VTC established a half-hectare demonstration plot dedicated to peas production. The plot serves as a practical learning platform where young farmers are exposed to recommended agronomic practices and modern farming techniques aimed at improving productivity and profitability. The cluster comprises six young farmers operating within the Tabudirira area. At Chitora 2 Irrigation Scheme, four young farmers jointly cultivated 1.2 hectares of peas and have already commenced harvesting. The crop is expected to yield approximately 10 tonnes this season, reflecting the success of the young farmers' efforts and the effectiveness of the cluster approach. In addition, two other young farmers each established one hectare of peas, further increasing the cluster’s production capacity. Collectively, the six young farmers have cultivated three hectares of peas, with total production projected to reach approximately 18 tonnes during the current season. The anticipated harvest demonstrates the potential of youth participation in commercial agriculture and highlights the capacity of young people to contribute meaningfully to food security, economic growth and rural development. Through access to training, markets and production support, the young farmers are transitioning from subsistence farming to commercially oriented agricultural enterprises. The Mutoko peas cluster further showcases the evolving role of Vocational Training Centres in empowering young people and driving community development. Beyond skills training, centres such as Tabudirira VTC are becoming incubation hubs for entrepreneurship, innovation and agricultural production. Through strategic partnerships and practical empowerment programmes, the Ministry remains committed to equipping young people with the skills, resources and opportunities needed to participate actively in Zimbabwe's economic development agenda.
Kaguvi VTC 80kVA Solar Power Plant.
Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre (VTC) commissioned an 80kVA solar power plant in the Midlands Province to improve practical training, reduce electricity costs, and host national events. The US$61,000 renewable energy project was funded through a US$58,500 EmpowerBank loan, with an additional US$2,500 used for security fencing. The solar facility was officially commissioned on July 2, 2026, by the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Hon. Tino Machakaire. It stands as the largest solar installation at any VTC in the Midlands Province, allowing the institution to transition toward affordable and sustainable energy.
LATEST UPDATES
News
Update
October 02, 2026
Gokwe North gets AI Digital Innovation Hub.
Sekai Manyere in GOKWE GOVERNMENT, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and Uncommon.Org, has launched an Artificial Intelligence, Digital and Innovation Hub at Nyamuroro Vocational Training Centre in Gokwe North. Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Tinoda Machakaire, who was represented by Deputy Minister Kudakwashe Mupanhanga, said the hub would provide young people in rural communities with access to digital skills, artificial intelligence, coding, innovation and opportunities in the digital economy. “The launch is more than the opening of a training facility,” he said. “It opens the gateway through which young people in rural Zimbabwe can access digital skills, artificial intelligence, coding, innovation, and the opportunities of the digital economy.” In a speech read on his behalf, Minister Machakaire said the facility was the first AI Digital Innovation Hub established by the ministry in a rural area, adding that its location in Gokwe North was deliberate. “Zimbabwe’s digital transformation must not be confined to our cities and urban centres. “It must reach our villages and rural communities so that no young person is left behind because of where they live,” he said. The hub has already enrolled 52 young people from Gokwe North who have commenced lessons. “To our 52 pioneer learners, this hub belongs to you. As the first cohort, you have been given an opportunity that many before you did not have. I urge you not to come merely to obtain certificates, but to acquire skills that can transform your lives,” he said. Minister Machakaire said the initiative came at a time when Zimbabwe was seeking to address youth unemployment and inactivity. He said approximately 49,2 percent of young people were not in education, employment or training, according to the 2025 ZimCET survey. The Minister explained that the national target is to reduce this proportion of youth not in education, employment, or training from 49,2 percent to 15 percent by 2030. He urged development partners, the private sector and communities to support similar initiatives. “One hub is an important beginning, but it cannot be the end; we need more partnerships, more young people trained, more rural communities connected to the digital economy,” said Minister Machakaire. UNDP resident representative Dr Ayodele Odusola said the project was designed as an opportunity platform to generate employment, entrepreneurship and locally relevant solutions. “Success of what we are doing today is not measured by the number of computers that have been installed, but the capabilities that are going to emerge from here, including the employment opportunities that are going to be created, the entrepreneurs that are going to be trained and the locally relevant solutions that are going to be introduced to address challenges that are facing our communities across Zimbabwe,” he said. He said digital innovation should reach communities across the country rather than remain concentrated in urban centres. “Access to digital innovation cannot be limited to all our major urban centres, but it should be something that is accessible to all communities across all 10 provinces in Zimbabwe,” he said. Dr Odusola said the next phase would focus on expanding skills, innovation, entrepreneurship and job creation. “Today’s commissioning is just the beginning; it’s not an end, so the next phase is for us to move from infrastructure to utilisation and also moving to expanding skills, innovating, training entrepreneurs and generating jobs,” he said. UNDP funded the renovation of the facility and procurement of 32 laptops, interactive boards and other equipment, while the Ministry of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services provided 20 additional laptops. Uncommon.Org deployed instructors to support the programme. Director Michelle Gwatiringa said the project demonstrated that innovation belonged to every community. “Together, we are demonstrating that innovation is not confined to our cities, but it belongs to every community across Zimbabwe,” she said.
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Update
September 30, 2026
Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub to Unlock Rural Youth Potential
The official launch of the Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub in Gokwe tomorrow, is set to usher in a new era of digital inclusion, innovation and economic empowerment for young people in rural communities. The establishment of the hub comes at a time when digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are rapidly reshaping economies, education, employment and entrepreneurship across the globe. For young people in rural communities, however, access to these technologies has been a major challenge. It is upon this background that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training working with the UNDP and Uncommon.org have come together for a cause. They established the Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub in Gokwe Nembudziya. The Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub will provide a platform where youths can acquire digital skills, access information and explore new opportunities presented by the rapidly evolving digital economy. The facility is poised to become an important centre for digital learning, innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly for young people who may otherwise struggle to access modern technology and specialised training. Through exposure to computers, internet-based learning and emerging technologies, youths will have opportunities to develop skills that can enhance their employability while also opening avenues for self-employment. The youths will acquire digital skills such as coding, artificial intelligence, digital marketing, graphic design, data management and online entrepreneurship. The skills are increasingly becoming important components of modern economies. For rural youths, acquiring such skills can provide opportunities to participate in economic activities beyond the traditional boundaries of their communities. A young person in Gokwe, for instance, will now be able to use digital platforms to market products, provide online services, access educational resources or establish an enterprise serving customers beyond the local community. This makes the Nyamuroro hub more than simply a technology centre. It rather represents an investment in human capital and the future of rural communities. Technology and agriculture The hub could also contribute significantly to the modernisation of agriculture, which remains an important economic activity in rural Zimbabwe. Access to digital information can enable farmers and young agricultural entrepreneurs to obtain information on weather patterns, markets, farming techniques, disease management and value addition. Artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are increasingly being incorporated into agriculture around the world, helping farmers make better-informed decisions and improve productivity. For young people interested in agriculture, access to digital technologies could therefore help transform farming from subsistence activity into a more commercially oriented enterprise. The hub will also provide an environment where young innovators develop technology-based solutions to challenges affecting their communities. Such locally developed solutions could address issues ranging from agriculture and education to environmental management, business development and access to information. Bridging the rural-urban digital divide One of the most significant potential contributions of the Hub would be its role in bridging the digital divide. The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Mr Solomon Mhlanga, made it clear that they would want to see the majority of our young from every corner of the country, actively participating in various economic sectors. “Digital exclusion can limit access to education, employment, financial services, markets and information. Establishing digital hubs in rural communities therefore helps create a more inclusive development environment in which young people can participate in the digital economy regardless of where they live. The Nyamuroro Hub has the potential to become a focal point for young innovators, entrepreneurs, students and community members seeking to acquire knowledge and use technology to improve their livelihoods. We are going to establish more digital hubs in all the provinces of the country and this is indeed the way to go in this new media world we are in.” he reiterated Empowering the next generation Youth empowerment remains central to Zimbabwe’s development aspirations, given the country’s youthful population and the need to create sustainable economic opportunities. The Nyamuroro initiative provides an opportunity to complement conventional youth development programmes with practical digital skills that respond to the demands of the modern economy. Rather than viewing young people solely as beneficiaries of development programmes, digital hubs can position them as innovators, entrepreneurs and creators of solutions. A digitally empowered young person can establish an online business, develop an application, market agricultural produce through digital platforms, undertake remote work or create content that reaches audiences beyond Zimbabwe. These possibilities demonstrate the transformative potential of digital inclusion. Rural development beyond infrastructure The importance of the Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub extends beyond technology. Rural development is not only about roads, electricity, water and physical infrastructure. It increasingly involves creating access to knowledge, innovation and opportunities. A digital hub can become a meeting point where young people exchange ideas, receive mentorship, collaborate on projects and connect with markets and institutions. It can also support lifelong learning by enabling community members to access online courses, educational materials and professional development opportunities. This can contribute to the development of a knowledge-based rural economy. As Zimbabwe accelerates efforts towards digital transformation, initiatives such as the Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub demonstrates the importance of taking technology to the communities rather than expecting communities to migrate to urban centres in search of opportunities. A gateway to the future The official launch of the Nyamuroro AI, Digital and Innovation Hub therefore comes with expectations that it will become a catalyst for innovation and youth empowerment in Gokwe and the Midlands Province. Its success, however, will depend not only on the availability of equipment and connectivity, but also on sustained training, mentorship, partnerships and the ability to translate digital skills into tangible economic opportunities. The hub has the potential to nurture a new generation of rural entrepreneurs, innovators and technology enthusiasts who can use their skills to address challenges within their communities while contributing to Zimbabwe’s broader development agenda. As the country embraces the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the message from Nyamuroro is clear: the digital future must be inclusive. And for the young people of Gokwe, the launch of the Hub will mark the beginning of a journey in which technology becomes a powerful tool for unlocking talent, creating opportunities and transforming their communities. The future of digital Zimbabwe cannot be built in cities alone. It must also be built in rural communities like Gokwe, Nkayi, Bubi, Mangwe, Tsholotsho, Filabusi, Kezi among many other rural communities in the country. Ranson Madzamba is the Director of Communication and Advocacy for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.
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Update
September 21, 2026
1 253 students graduate in provincial skills revolution
Tendai Vambe Post Reporter A TOTAL of 1 253 students from nine vocational training centres in Manicaland graduated this morning at Magamba Vocational Training Centre. The third annual graduation for the province’s nine vocational training centres was described as Manicaland’s skills revolution. Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training Minister, Honourable Tino Machakaire, said upskilling youths is at the centre of Vision 2030 and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s thrust to industrialise rural communities through skills and self-employment. “Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, has placed human capital development at the centre of the country’s transformation agenda. Our national development aspirations under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) recognise that Zimbabwe cannot become an upper middle-income economy without a highly skilled, productive, innovative and entrepreneurial population. This is why we have these graduates here today,” he said. Minister Machakaire said Government’s focus on vocational training reflects its commitment to building a workforce capable of driving industrialisation from the grassroots. Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the province is embracing President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which promotes self-employment so that vocational skills are used in industry. Minister Mugadza said skills in areas such as poultry, horticulture, garment making and construction should be applied to enhance personal welfare and community development. The graduation underscored the role of vocational training in equipping young people with practical skills for economic participation.
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