The Contribution Of Youth Development Fund (Loans) Towards Employment Creation Aiming Youth In Zimbabwe From 2009 – 2014. A Case Of Mashonaland Central Province

Abstract

Youths in Zimbabwe constitute a greater proportion of the total population and are the most

marginalised group within the African societies in terms of resource distribution. Therefore, the

government of Zimbabwe involves the youths in the economy by introducing the Indigenisation

and Economic policy, which was supported by numerous programmes. To address the issue of

unemployment the government decided to establish the Youth Development Fund in conjunction

with the financial institutions. Against this background, this study sought to establish the

contribution of Youth Development Funds (loans) towards employment creation in Mashonaland

Central Province, Zimbabwe. The study used a descriptive research design and a combination of

purposive and stratified random sampling techniques to select the respondents. Data was

collected using questionnaires, interviewsand online research triangulated in order to obtain

holistic and robust findings. Using descriptive statistics, the results of the study indicated that

Youth Development Fund tried to create the employment for the youths but the programme ended

up being politicised therefore, the programme regarded as a failure to create the job

opportunities for the majority of the youths because the rate of unemployed youths is still high.

It managed to create the employment for the elites. In light of the findings, the government of

Zimbabwe is advised to monitor and evaluate the funded projects to ensure the feasibility of the

project.

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