HON. MUTSA MUROMBEDZI: Madam Speaker, I rise to slightly give another angle on this motion, not because I do not believe in youth empowerment, but because reserving 30% of Government tenders for youth-led enterprises is not the most effective way to achieve it. Instead of focusing on quotas and hand-outs, we must prioritise innovation, skills development and private sector-driven opportunities that truly prepare young people to compete in a fast-changing economy.
First of all, Government tenders breed dependency, not innovation. Reserving a fixed percentage of Government contracts for youth may seem like a noble idea, but it risks creating a culture of dependency rather than innovation. Youth-led businesses should not rely on Government hand-outs to thrive. Instead, they should be encouraged to innovate, compete and create products and services that attract investment beyond Government contracts.
The reality is that Government procurement processes are slow, bureaucratic and prone to corruption. If we pour youth enterprises into this system, we risk choking their growth with red tape rather than fostering dynamic, scalable business solutions.
Secondly, the real issue is the lack of access to finance and markets. Madam Speaker, what truly stifles youth entrepreneurship is not a lack of tenders but a lack of access to finance, technology and markets. Many young people have business ideas but struggle to get funding, modern equipment and market linkages. If we fix these issues, youth businesses will naturally succeed without needing Government quotas.
WATCH VIDEO HERE: Instead of reserving tenders, we should expand access to affordable loans through innovation hubs, venture capital and fintech solutions; promote business incubators and accelerators to help young entrepreneurs refine and scale their ideas and invest in STEM education, digital skills and entrepreneurship training to help prepare youths for competitive industries like tech, agribusiness and renewable energy.
Thirdly, youth-led innovation is the future, not government contracts. Globally, economies are being transformed by young innovators, tech entrepreneurs and problem-solvers, not by Government tenders. In Africa, we have seen young people develop fintech solutions, e-commerce platforms and smart agriculture systems that have revolutionised industries. This is where our focus should be.
Instead of pushing youth into Government contracts, we should create tax incentives for private companies to invest in youth-led start-ups; fund research and development (R and D) initiatives led by young people and establish innovation parks and digital hubs where young entrepreneurs can test ideas and scale businesses.
Fourth is, Government tenders are prone to corruption and elite capture. Madam Speaker, let us be honest. How many of these tenders will actually reach the ordinary young entrepreneur in rural areas? We have seen in the past how tender systems are manipulated by politically connected elites. This motion risks benefiting a few privileged youths in urban centres while neglecting those in villages who lack networks to access these tenders. We need a solution that benefits ALL young Zimbabweans, not just a privileged few.
In conclusion, let us build a competitive, innovative youth-led economy. If we truly want to empower young people, we must equip them with skills, capital and access to markets, not Government quotas. Let us invest in tech, agribusiness, manufacturing and creative industries where young people can thrive without waiting for a Government contract. Our youths do not need special treatment, they need equal access to resources, a business-friendly environment and opportunities that reward hard work and innovation. I so submit Madam Speaker.
