An Investigation On The Impact Of Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund On Youth Livelihoods. A Case Of Mzilikazi District (Bulawayo Metropolitan Province).

ABSTRACT

In Zimbabwe youth constitute a large percentage of the population and they are most marginalised group of people when it comes to resource allocation. As result their livelihoods have been affected by lack resources, capabilities and assets to improve their livelihoods. However the Zimbabwe government has made numerous efforts to improve the livelihoods of youth. One of the efforts done by the Zimbabwean government is to create the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment with the mandate of empowering youth economically, socially and politically. To further buttress and address challenges faced by youth the indigenisation policy was formulated to reduce unemployment, to promote a culture of entrepreneurship, improve resource allocation and improve the livelihoods of young people. Thus the mandate of the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment is to execute and review policies relating to youth empowerment and compliance with the national indigenisation and economic empowerment. The Zimbabwean government has created national indigenisation policy were the policy has led to the creation of a Youth Fund known as Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund which is meant to empower indigenous youth of Zimbabwe. The youth aged 18 to 35 years are the main beneficiaries of the youth fund. However, despite the availability of the Kurera/Ukondla youth fund, youth livelihoods remains questionable and has been greatly politicised, thus failing to bring the intend results  regardless of government efforts to improve the livelihoods of youth.

Acknowledgements

First and foremost I thank God Almighty for giving me the opportunity to do an Honours Degree in Development Studies. Thank you good Lord for surrounding me with helpful people throughout this course.

I would like to acknowledge and express my sincere thanks to my research supervisor Mr D Munemo who is a lecturer at the Midlands State University, for his expertise and professional encouragement. Thank you for sacrificing your time. May the Good Lord richly bless you and your family.

My deepest gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment officials in their assistance in linking me up with the community and the information they provided which was relevant to my study. My sincere gratitude also goes to my dear friend Sibangani Dube for helping me out with the whole research, God bless you I appreciate the time you took away from your  personal work to help me with my dissertation. God bless you.

To my Family I appreciate all the love and support you gave in my studies special mention to Mr and Mrs D Ncube. God be with you all and I love you. My deepest gratitude and appreciation goes to Mr and Mrs K Mudzingwa for their warm welcome and unwavering support during my stay at Gweru. To my workmates thank you good people for your support and words of encouragement.