By Heather Buzuzi
Costa Tavanzume
Mutare – July 17, 2025 – EmpowerBank has called on young people in Manicaland to organise themselves into formal groups and take advantage of government-backed financial support aimed at boosting youth-led agriculture and entrepreneurship.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting facilitated by the Manica Youth Assembly (MAYA) under the Urban Future Project in Mutare last week, EmpowerBank’s Manicaland Branch Manager, Costa Tavanzume, said the institution is committed to financially empowering youths across the province, but stressed the need for structure and unity.
“We are a Government bank and our mandate is to promote financial inclusion through youth empowerment towards vision 2030″, Tavanzume said. “Our target is 70% youths and 30% non-youths to have a balanced portfolio. But for youths to benefit, they must speak for themselves, formulate groups, and register with the Zimbabwe Youth Council.”
The event, themed “Towards a Sustainable Green Smart City: Empowering Youth and Women for Inclusive, Climate-Resilient Food Systems,” brought together city councillors, civil society organisations, and financial institutions to dialogue with youths on sustainable urban farming and access to economic opportunities.
Tavanzume explained that EmpowerBank is lowering barriers for young people to open accounts and access funding. “With as little as US$1 and proof of residence, youths can open bank accounts. Loan processing takes as little as 48 hours,” he said.
The dialogue, facilitated by MAYA in collaboration with HIVOS, Green Governance Trust Zimbabwe (GGZ), and the National Association of Youth Organisations (NAYO), focused on building food systems resilience and improving youth participation in agriculture and entrepreneurship.
Tinashe Muzama, Programmes Officer at MAYA, said the platform was created after consultations revealed that most youths lack access to land and startup capital. “We saw a need to bring all key players to the table council, banks, and development partners to find lasting solutions,” he said.
Also present at the event were Mutare City Deputy Mayor Alderman John Nyamhoka, Alderman Edson Kalulu, and Councillors Sarah Manjengwa and Miriam Tandire. The councillors encouraged youths to approach the municipality formally to access land for farming and to utilise designated markets for selling produce.
“There are council-run gardens and markets already in place, but youths need to organise themselves to benefit,” said Alderman Kalulu.
The Zimbabwe Agriculture Development Trust (ZADT), another key participant, pledged to support agro-based projects by helping with proposal writing and linking youths to funding. “We work with youths and women aged 35 to 65,” said Chakanyuka Manenji, ZADT’s Business Development Officer.
EmpowerBank’s involvement in such dialogues highlights its growing role in youth empowerment through inclusive financial services. The bank urged young people to take the initiative by forming cooperatives or groups and applying for support to drive their agricultural ventures and economic aspirations forward.
We also want to take loans but when we visit the bank the requirements are just too much many women dnt have itemsnin their name because the husband alwys has his name on assets ..women should be understood when we come and we want to bring collateral with hisbands name.