The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) leadership has challenged African countries to increase programs and policies that promote youth and women empowerment, inclusion and participation as a way of achieving both local and regional economic goals together with the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The call has been made as the African continent has been commemorating the Africa month, particularly the Africa Day which was observed on the 25th of May 2025.
Sharing sentiments about what should be done to promote youth empowerment in African countries, Zimbabwe Council of Churches Youth President Reverend Pritchard Madanyika revealed that some of the economic disparities that exist in different African countries were caused by colonialism therefore they need to be dealt with in the context of Africa in order to achieve equality.
“The 2025 Africa Day celebrations resonate very well with young people for it has been talking about reparations. One of the key issues in Africa as young people that we are calling for is the redress of economic disparities that have been brought about through the colonial period.
“So, this issue needs to be redressed in the context of Africans so that we can achieve equality among Africans,” said Madanyika.
Meanwhile, women have also called for an open door of education, inclusion and participation of African women as a way to attaining gender equity and equality.
ZCC LEF Leader Reverend Talent Sithole said “We are very excited as African women that we have been liberated from colonialism and we have seen the establishment of the African Union (AU)
“As we are celebrating, we still expect more to be done for the upliftment, including and empowerment of women. We are still calling for more opportunities to be created for women such as education, women empowerment and gender equality. As women we are saying we have the capacity to lead in various sectors, let more women be availed top leadership positions to lead,” she said
Youth and women empowerment include: economic independence, social inclusion, political participation, change in gender relations, and improved health and education.
This year’s Africa Day commemorations have been running under the theme “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”.
As part of promoting economic empowerment for young people and women, the government of Zimbabwe has among others launched the Youth Empower Bank, Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank and the President Mnangagwa’s Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme which was launched in 2025.
