By Blessed Chikowore

As Zimbabweans, we take pride in the legacy of liberation — our ancestors fought for freedom, justice, and dignity. But today, that freedom is being betrayed by systems that continue to marginalize the very people it was meant to uplift: the youth.

Securing employment in Zimbabwe has become less about qualifications and more about who you know. Degrees, skills, and passion are no longer enough. Young people are met with closed doors and shattered dreams.

After years of study, many graduates return to their communities with no opportunities — facing the very poverty they hoped education would help them escape.

This isn’t just an economic problem; it’s a national crisis. Greed and gatekeeping have replaced merit, and as long as jobs are reserved for the connected few, how can we expect our nation to rise?

“We cannot build a strong Zimbabwe while leaving its young people behind.”

The government’s recent ban on secondhand clothing imports was, on paper, a step toward industrial growth and self-reliance. But its execution lacked empathy. For many unemployed youths, selling secondhand clothes wasn’t just a hustle — it was survival.

The sudden clampdown, without offering sustainable alternatives, has deepened poverty and forced thousands into a state of idleness, vulnerability, and desperation.

We cannot build a strong Zimbabwe while leaving its young people behind. It is time to rethink how we implement policy, how we distribute opportunity, and how we treat each other. Let’s promote fairness. Let’s empower talent. Let’s build this nation from the ground up — together.

Rising Together: Addressing Youth Unemployment and the Injustices We Ignore

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