By Own Correspondent

In a key move to boost Zimbabwe’s horticulture industry and support youth entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training officially received two trucks—a refrigerated truck and a seven-ton vehicle—set to enhance operations at the Mutoko Fruit and Vegetable Hub. 

The handover ceremony, held in Harare, marked the latest milestone in the collaboration between the Government of Zimbabwe, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), under the Sustainable Enterprise Development for Women and Youth (SEDWAY) project.

The trucks, designed to support cold-chain logistics, will ensure that produce from youth-led horticulture enterprises remains fresh and competitive as it reaches local and regional markets. 

Tino Machakaire, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Youth Empowerment, highlighted the strategic importance of the new vehicles, noting that they complete a vital link in the cold chain system.

“These trucks will allow produce to be transported efficiently while maintaining its quality and freshness—meeting the high standards required in the horticulture sector,” he said. 

Machakaire emphasized that the trucks would benefit youth farmers, especially through the creation of youth business clusters and market-driven operations at the Mutoko Hub. 

The ILO, a key partner in the SEDWAY project, underscored the broader impact of their initiatives, which have already trained over 2,300 young people, including nearly 1,200 young women, through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centres. 

“These projects reflect our shared vision of empowering youth as leaders of change, innovation, and development,” said Ms Masuku from the ILO. 

Looking to the future, the ILO also announced plans to reform curricula in sectors like horticulture, aquaculture, and goat farming, as well as to establish innovation hubs at TVET centres to foster further youth engagement in agriculture. 

Both Machakaire and ILO representatives expressed their gratitude to the AfDB for its continued support and reiterated their commitment to empowering Zimbabwe’s youth while strengthening the country’s horticulture sector.