African leaders urge young women to pursue economic empowerment

Leaders in Namibia and Zimbabwe are calling on young women to pursue economic independence through agribusiness and wealth creation.

In Namibia, Okakarara Regional Councillor Uzeraije Tjaverua urged young women at the Okatjoruu Agricultural Farmers' Day to view agriculture as a viable business rather than just a traditional way of life. Tjaverua emphasized that modern technology and sustainable farming methods could provide meaningful employment and sustainable incomes, noting that farmers are the backbone of the local economy.

In Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa addressed the Young Women for Economic Development Convention in Harare, encouraging young women to accumulate productive assets and livestock. While Mnangagwa praised the organization's expansion, his call to ‘make money’ comes as the country faces significant economic pressures, including limited employment opportunities and barriers to accessing capital for new businesses.