Ponesai Vanhu Technical College, Shamva District, Zimbabwe – The 3rd Graduation Ceremony of Ponesai Vanhu Technical College took place on Thursday, 13 November 2025, with the theme “Leaving No One and No Place Behind through Skills Development and Youth Empowerment”.
The Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, who is also the Member of Parliament for Mt Darwin South, Honourable Kudakwashe Mupamhanga, delivered the keynote address, congratulating the 324 graduates (140 male and 184 female) on their achievement.
Honourable Kudakwashe Mupamhanga, the Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development, and Vocational Training, as well as the Member of Parliament for Mt Darwin South, delivered the keynote address, congratulating the 324 graduates, comprising 140 males and 184 females, on their accomplishment.
“In today’s world, vocational education stands at the centre stage of our national development strategy,” said Honourable Mupamhanga. “Ponesai Vanhu Technical College is a shining example of our national motto, ‘Leaving No One and No Place Behind’.”
The Minister commended the college for its commitment to empowering young people and contributing to national development. He urged the graduates to use their skills to uplift their families and communities, and to become leaders in their chosen fields.
Graduation Highlights:
53 youth (42 male and 11 female) graduated in 2 long courses accredited by HEXCO.
271 youth (98 male and 173 female) graduated in 9 short courses accredited by Bindura University of Science Education.
240 students graduated in agri-entrepreneurship courses accredited by Bindura University of Science Education.
DAPP Zimbabwe Country Director, Luckson Soda, highlighted how the college has gone beyond Zimbabwe’s borders through its integration into the Africa Skills Revolution, where some TVET students have participated in the AUDA-NEPAD HUMANA initiative to revolutionise vocational education and training.
“Students from this college participated in the Skills. Revolution competition in 2025, where they demonstrated innovation in vocational training in Africa. Although they did not win awards, I am proud to say that 3 youth from Angola, Namibia, and Malawi, from DAPP-owned vocational training centres, made it into the top 10. It is my appeal to you, Honourable Minister that you encourage more youth from Vocational training Centres in Zimbabwe to partake in the Africa Skills Revolution, so that through innovation, together the government and all players here, we give the world what it really needs and what works in our specific context.
This is not just a success for those individuals, but a collective achievement for our entire Humana People to People network. It is a testament to the innovation and potential that exist within Africa’s youth, and it highlights the growing strength of vocational training across our continent.
As we look toward the future, let this graduation serve as a reminder that the responsibility to shape Africa’s development lies in our hands. I urge all graduates here today to take the skills you have acquired and boldly step into the opportunities offered through the Africa Skills Revolution. Participate, innovate, collaborate and let your work reflect the excellence and resilience of Zimbabwean youth.” Said Mr Soda
“I am grateful to DAPP Zimbabwe and the government for providing us with the opportunity to acquire on-the-job demand skills that will allow me to compete in my area of specialty, become an entrepreneur and also improve my life,” said Robert Mataramvura, a 30-year-old graduate of Confectionery and Bakery Studies.
Another graduate, 22-year-old Mercy Muchecheko, who specialised in Motor Vehicle Maintenance, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “As a single mother of one, I am excited to return to my community and share the knowledge and skills I have gained. I am confident that I will earn a living for myself and my child”
Two best students, one male and one female from the Motor Mechanics department, received start-up kits awards from InstaToll Zimbabwe. Additionally, two outstanding ladies from Confectionary and Bakery Studies, one of whom is living with a disability also got start-up kits awards from the HigherLife Foundation. These start-up kits are a great milestone for these youths as they begin their journey.
According to UNESCO, TVET in Africa faces challenges like high youth unemployment (over 20%), a mismatch between skills and labor market needs, and inadequate funding and infrastructure.
Climate change is one of the biggest threats facing our communities, especially farmers and rural populations. But what if the solution wasn’t just about adapting, but about empowering a new generation to lead the change? That’s the big idea behind the Youth Empowerment for Climate Change Solutions Project, a new collaboration between Development Aid from People to People Zimbabwe (DAPP Zimbabwe) and Development Aid from People to People Zimbabwe Malawi (DAPP Malawi). This project is funded by the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation (NOREC) and is set to run from August 2025 to June 2027. NOREC is a Norwegian government agency that promotes global learning, understanding and development through the international exchange of personnel.
This exchange program aims to address the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related challenges by facilitating mutual learning between youth leaders from both Zimbabwe and Malawi. By equipping the youth with new skills, knowledge and methods in sustainable farming and climate adaptation and mitigation, the project seeks to strengthen the resilience of rural communities and empower youth as stewards of sustainable practices. Upon returning to Zimbabwe and Malawi, the participants will share their newly acquired expertise, with their organisations and communities, fostering a broader awareness and adaptation to climate change.
The project is being implemented in two phases, with the first phase ending in August 2026 and this phase we are already seeing the exchange in action, with three youth leaders from Zimbabwe; Kelvin Guruve, Ross Phiri and Revealed Mashonganyika having gone to Malawi and while DAPP Zimbabwe welcomed Happy Makawa, Regina Saiwala and Faresi Friday.
Throughout the project, participants will engage in hands-on workshops, site visits, collaborative projects and leadership training that focus on practical skills and innovative solutions. They will develop essential skills in advocacy and community mobilization. Participants will attend workshops, visit farms and work together on projects that create tangible solutions. Together, they will co-design strategies to address the challenges faced by rural communities, fostering cross-cultural dialogue that encourages innovation and inspires meaningful change.
We are excited to embark on this journey and are eager to witness the profound impact these young agents of change will have. Together, we can create a brighter future for both our communities and our planet.
In the heart of Manicaland province, our TC TB Makoni project is transforming the lives of smallholder farmers and their communities. What began as a simple initiative to strengthen the resilience of these farmers against climate change has evolved into a beacon of hope and a model for sustainable development.
One success story is that of Mabvazuva Garden in Mupoperi village where 50 dedicated group garden members both men and women have achieved a remarkable milestone. Covering 1.5 hectares, this community-driven initiative has been officially registered as a Savings and Credit Cooperative in Zimbabwe (Registration Number 9722) in Zimbabwe. This achievement emphasizes how collective action can drive sustainable change, foster economic growth and alleviate poverty.
The farmers are working together as a group, collectively purchasing inputs and selling their produce while sharing the profits equally. To promote the circulation of money and ensure the garden continues to thrive, the group decided to re-register as a cooperative.
Our journey with the Makoni community gardens began in 2020, when we established nutrition gardens for 500 beneficiaries living with HIV and TB. Building on this foundation, we partnered with Civil Society in Development (CISU) through UFF-Humana | Tøj der skaber udvikling from May 2023 to September 2024, equipping 200 farmers with the knowledge and tools needed for climate-smart agriculture. Our goal was to empower these farmers to adopt sustainable livelihoods, enhance food security, and protect the environment.
Today, the Mabvazuva Garden stands as a vibrant hub of agricultural innovation. It features a thriving orchard, a compost area, a productive fish pond and a variety of crops such as sugar beans, vegetables, carrots and tomatoes. The farmers have also ventured into beekeeping, fish farming and broiler chickens creating a sustainable rural business model.
The outstanding work at Mabvazuva Garden was recently recognized as the best model in the entire Makoni District, leading to a “look-and-learn” visit for other organizations. This story serves as a powerful reminder of what can be accomplished when a community collaborates. The Mabvazuva Garden is a symbol of resilience, innovation and the transformative power of collective action. We are incredibly proud to have been part of this journey.
In the Chivi District, over 1,500 smallholder farmers and their families are benefiting from DAPP’s Farmers’ Clubs model, which promotes conservation farming practices such as potholing, mulching, and crop diversification. With support from DAPP Field Officers and AGRITEX, these farmers received training, practical lessons and field visits. The assistance helped them build resilience to climate shocks by adopting climate-smart farming strategies that utilize locally available resources and technologies. In the 2024/2025 season, almost all 1,500 farmers’ recorded great harvest in drought resistant crops and small grains especially rapoko, millets, groundnuts, sesame and sweet potatoes. To date, 850 farmers have stocked enough food from their fields to last them until the next harvest season
One inspiring case story is that of Ms. Vimbai Macheka, a 61-year-old farmer from Macheka village. With guidance from DAPP and AGRITEX, Mrs Macheka adopted conservation farming principles on her 1-hectare plot, where she grew groundnuts. From a 1-acre section, she harvested an impressive 400 kg of shelled groundnuts and sold 300 kgs at a price of USD $30 per 20 kg bucket. She also kept 100 kgs for her family’s consumption. Thanks to her successful harvest, Ms. Macheka’s family, including her five grandchildren, will have enough food including other harvested crops including rapoko, sweet potatoes and millets to last until the next season.
Ms. Macheka used the USD $450 income generated from her groundnut sales to purchase essential food items, hygiene products and inputs for the upcoming farming season. Additionally, she hopes to harvest at least a tonne of maize, which she is currently shelling. Ms. Macheka plans to sell some of the maize for income while reserving the rest for her family’s consumption.
Our project was a success due to funding support from GAIA Movement USA and DAPP Zimbabwe is proud to be making a positive impact on the lives of smallholder farmers and their families in the Chivi district.
DAPP Zimbabwe is excited to announce the launch of a new 3-year project in Hwedza District, Mashonaland East Province, with support from GAIA Movement USA. The project, titled Hwedza Farmers’ Clubs: Promoting Climate-Resilient Livelihoods and Ecosystems for Smallholder Farmers,aims to strengthen the resilience of 1,000 smallholder farmers against climate change and economic challenges.
Running from April 2025 to 2027, the project will focus on promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices and improving food and income security for smallholder farmers and their families in Wards 1, 5, 9, 10, and 11. This initiative aligns with national and regional frameworks, including the SADC Regional Resilience Framework and Zimbabwe’s National Climate Change Response Strategy, supporting a coordinated and integrated approach to building resilience among rural smallholder farmers.
As part of this initiative, DAPP Zimbabwe will bring together 1,000 smallholder farmers through 20 established Farmers’ Clubs, each comprising 50 dedicated farmers. These clubs will provide a platform for farmers to receive training and support, empowering them to adopt climate-resilient practices that will protect their livelihoods.
To further strengthen their efforts, the project will establish two Climate Adaptation Centers equipped with innovative solutions, such as solar-powered boreholes and drip irrigation systems. These centres will demonstrate ecosystem-based farming practices, allowing farmers to see the benefits firsthand and learn how to implement these strategies on their land.
The project will leverage the symbiotic relationships between plants and livestock to build climate resilience. By integrating crops and animals, smallholder farmers will learn to cultivate gardens that thrive despite the challenges posed by climate change, while also generating income. As agroforestry systems develop and biodiversity increases, farmers will benefit from a healthier ecosystem. This will result in a triple benefit: more food on the table, improved nutrition for their families, and a steady income.
To ensure the long-term success of this project, DAPP Zimbabwe will create strong partnerships with existing local structures and organizations. By collaborating with these key stakeholders, DAPP aims to foster a community-based approach that empowers smallholder farmers to take ownership of their journey towards climate resilience.
DAPP Zimbabwe is committed to empowering smallholder farmers by providing them with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to adapt to climate change. Our aim is to create lasting solutions to the challenges posed by climate change and improve the lives of smallholder farmers and their families in Hwedza District and we are excited for this journey, thanks to GAIA Movement USA for the financial support.
