Evaluation of Youth Empowerment Strategies in Rural Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article evaluates strategies for youth empowerment in rural Zimbabwe. Policies and institutions that are mandated to implement such tasks in Zimbabwe are evaluated. The paper also explores the compatibility of the said policies within a rural context. Through in-depth and key informant interviews with youths, government ministries and non-governmental organisations in Mwenezi (corroborated by secondary data), the paper provides a clearer understanding of youth empowerment policies in rural Zimbabwe. The study notes several shortcomings within the policy framework, such as tokenistic consultation in formulating, designing and implementing policies. Shortage of funds and corruption among public officers often hamper implementation, while poor coordination between actor organisations has negatively impacted youth empowerment outcomes. The paper therefore proposes context-specific policies that meet the real rural challenges as experienced by the youth, and not those imagined by policy makers/enactors. In coming up with such programmes, the paper advocates for youth participation at every stage, while also ensuring that relevant institutions are empowered to enhance the welfare/emancipation of the youth. In contributing to the broader discussion on rural African youth empowerment, this paper advocates for the mainstreaming of youth policies that are suitable for rural contexts as a way of enhancing their socio-economic emancipation.