Harare — The Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment has launched a one-month skills training programme at Kamativi Mining Centre for people from Matabeleland North.

The programme began on Sunday and runs until the end of September. In an interview in Kamativi yesterday, Matabeleland North provincial youth development officer Mr Buthumuzi Ngwenya said they had enrolled 100 youths.

The youths, drawn from the seven districts in the province, are being trained in the Integrated Skills Outreach Programme. They will be taught building, welding, carpentry, sewing and home décor. "We want to encourage youths to develop their own communities rather than wait for donors. We managed to build a house for a 93-year-old man in Kamativi and Blair toilets for communities in Nyathi district," said Mr Ngwenya.

The youths will be given loans under the Youth Development Fund. Mr Ngwenya said youths aged between 18 and 25 were eligible to apply, but must have a registered company or be in the process of registering. They are required to open an account with CBZ Bank and have at least 10 percent of the money they need for their business venture.

"Each applicant is given US$3 000 of which US$1 000 is working capital while the remaining US$2 000 is for capital expenditure. The loans are payable after six months with 10 percent interest," he said.