By Zachary Gava
Harare, (New Ziana) – The launch of Zimbabwe’s 2026 Demographic Futures Survey has reinforced calls for greater investment in young people, with Government declaring the country’s youthful population its greatest asset and warning that failure to empower the next generation would undermine national development.
Speaking during the World Population Day 2026 commemorations and the launch of the survey, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tinoda Machakaire said Zimbabwe’s demographic profile presents a unique opportunity to accelerate economic transformation if young people are equipped with the right skills, education and opportunities.
“Population is not simply about numbers; it is about people. It is about dignity, opportunity and hope,” said Machakaire.
“Our youthful population is not a challenge to be managed; it is our greatest national asset to be developed.”
The commemorations were held under the theme “Lives, Choices and Futures,” highlighting the importance of creating conditions that enable young people to live healthy lives, make informed decisions and realize their full potential.
The Minister noted that more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s population is made up of young people, describing them as future entrepreneurs, innovators, scientists, farmers and leaders capable of driving the country’s development agenda.
“The true wealth of Zimbabwe is not found beneath our soil alone; it is found in the talent, resilience and determination of our young people,” he said.
Machakaire said Government’s recently approved National Youth Policy demonstrates its commitment to placing young people at the centre of national development through economic empowerment, vocational skills training, digital transformation, innovation, environmental sustainability and improved access to health services.
“Our ambition is simple but profound: we want young people to move from job seekers to job creators, from consumers of technologies to innovators, and from beneficiaries of development to leaders of development,” he said.
He said Government continues to expand vocational training centres while intensifying efforts to combat drug and substance abuse through prevention, rehabilitation, mental health support and community-based interventions.
The Minister also condemned the abuse and exploitation of minors following a disturbing social media video allegedly showing a teenage girl being sexually exploited by an HIV-positive adult.
“Such behaviour cannot be tolerated. Those responsible, including anyone who supported such criminal acts, must be investigated and brought to justice,” he said, describing young people as the nation’s greatest resource whose futures must be protected.
Machakaire said Government’s recently launched National Framework to Prevent and Manage Adolescent Pregnancies and revised National Clinical Guidelines demonstrate its commitment to safeguarding the health, dignity and aspirations of young people, particularly ensuring girls remain in school and boys have opportunities to contribute positively to society.
The 2026 Demographic Futures Survey, launched jointly by the Government of Zimbabwe and the United Nations Population Fund, provides evidence to guide policies on education, health, employment, housing and infrastructure.
The survey found that while young people still aspire to have families, many face barriers including economic insecurity, housing challenges and limited access to reproductive healthcare.
Machakaire urged all sectors to use the report to shape future policies, saying: “The true measure of a nation is not how many people it has, but how many young people it empowers. If we invest wisely in our youth today, history will remember this generation as the one that transformed Zimbabwe’s demographic advantage into lasting national prosperity.”
New Ziana
