Mwinyi boosts youth employment opportunities

ZANZIBAR: ZANZIBAR President Dr Hussein Mwinyi has pledged continued government support for initiatives aimed at equipping young people with education, skills, employment and new economic opportunities, while directing key ministries to support the establishment of a youth training centre in the Isles.

Dr Mwinyi made the commitment yesterday while laying the foundation stone for the Tanzania Youth Icon (TAYI) training, education and sports centre at Alabama area in Kikwajuni Constituency.

He said the project would help address challenges facing young people through education, vocational training, sports, innovation and entrepreneurship, in line with the implementation of Zanzibar’s Development Vision 2050.

“The construction of this centre is an important step in preparing our young people through education, training, sports, innovation and entrepreneurship,” Dr Mwinyi said.

The President directed the Ministry of Education, through the Vocational Training Authority (VTA), to work closely with TAYI by providing trainers and technical experts and helping young people who complete training obtain recognised professional certificates.

He also directed the ministry responsible for youth affairs to provide guidance on managing and strengthening TAYI programmes, while entrepreneurship funds should be used to expand young people’s access to loans and start-up capital.

Dr Mwinyi further instructed the Ministry of Construction and Transport to include in the government’s road construction programme a road linking Sheikh Thabit Kombo through the TAYI project area to Miembeni, as well as the Kisima Majongoo road section.

He said the government would continue strengthening empowerment programmes for young people and women through training, affordable loans, technology and improved access to markets in collaboration with the private sector, civil society organisations and development partners.

The President also praised the progress of the project, saying it reflected the government’s commitment to creating opportunities for young people.

“I have seen for myself that we did not waste that land; we gave it to the right people. What is being built there is very much in line with the aspirations of our government,” he said.

Dr Mwinyi welcomed a 100m/- cheque presented to the Zanzibar Economic Empowerment Agency (ZEEA), describing it as an important contribution towards government efforts to empower young people and other citizens economically.

Kikwajuni Member of Parliament, Engineer Hamad Yussuf Masauni said the centre would help reduce youth unemployment by providing practical skills and creating an environment that supports self-employment.

He said the facility would offer training in entrepreneurship, vocational skills, information technology, sports and arts based on young people’s talents and labour market demands.

Eng Masauni added that Kikwajuni Constituency plans to establish a 100m/- empowerment fund to provide start-up capital for young people completing training at the centre.

Speaking on behalf of TAYI, Kombo Juma Mwalim said the organisation had already trained more than 800 young people since its establishment and appealed for continued government support to secure registration and accreditation for its training programmes.

The construction project was initially estimated to cost 3.4bn/- but is now expected to reach 4bn/- following challenges encountered during implementation.

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