President Emmerson Mnangagwa last night called for stronger partnerships to expand access to higher education and youth empowerment, at the ED-UNZA Fundraising Dinner held in Harare.
During his speech, President Mnangagwa commended the achievements of the scholarship programme and urged the private sector, development partners and individuals to support the initiative.
“It gives me great pleasure to join you at this important gathering dedicated to the noble cause of promoting universal access to education and youth empowerment.
This evening, we celebrate the achievements of the ED-UNZA scholarship programme, while at the same time forging the future of this initiative through stronger partnerships,” the President said.
He said the scholarship programme was founded to unlock opportunities for talented young people who may otherwise fail to access higher education due to financial constraints.
“As an alumnus of the University of Zambia, I founded this initiative on an enduring principle that talent is universal, but opportunity is not.
We must never tire in our quest to empower the youth and create opportunities for children within Zimbabwe and Zambia so that they realise their full potential and achieve impactful careers,” President Mnangagwa added.
President Mnangagwa noted that Zimbabwe and Zambia share a long history and a common responsibility to invest in their young populations.
“Our two nations share more than borders. We share a common history, cultural ties and relations, as well as aspirations and a collective responsibility to secure a brighter future for the young people.
Whilst our countries remain richly endowed with natural resources, our untapped wealth also lies within the vast potential and intellectual prowess of our youthful population,” he said.
He applauded the progress made under the ED-UNZA Scholarship Trust, revealing that several students have already graduated under the programme.
“It is pleasing that ten students have graduated, with a further two expected to graduate by year end. I congratulate these students for their perseverance, focus and hard work which has seen them achieve their undergraduate degrees,” President Mnangagwa noted.
The President stressed that education remains the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s development agenda, particularly in science, technology and medical fields.
“Education that drives home-grown solutions remains the cornerstone of our ongoing national development agenda.
By investing in the appropriate education and skills development, we are laying a solid foundation for long-term modernisation, industrialisation and development for Zimbabwe, Zambia, SADC and the African continent at large,” he said.
He said Government will continue to promote a knowledge-driven economy while appealing for increased support to the scholarship fund.
“Support to this fund is a strategic investment in skills and human capital development. No academically gifted child should fail to succeed due to lack of resources.
Hand in hand, we have the ability to unlock the full potential of our young people and shape a future defined by innovation, unity and shared progress,” said President Mnangagwa.
The ED-UNZA Scholarship Trust was established to support Zimbabwean students studying at the University of Zambia and to promote academic exchange between the two countries.
The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the Second Republic to prioritise education, skills development and youth empowerment as key pillars of national development.
