By Godfrey Gusha
Masvingo – On a quiet corner of Kirton Street in Masvingo, something powerful is taking shape. A group of ten young people just completed a free four-week digital skills training that could change the course of their lives.
Organized by Mother Africa International Inc., the Digital Skills Development Training offered hands-on courses in web development, graphic design, cybersecurity, digital marketing, social media management, and computer literacy. The program was entirely free and open to students, professionals, and entrepreneurs ready to build a future in the digital world.
It’s a timely intervention. Zimbabwe is in the middle of executing its National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which sets a clear goal to build a digital economy and equip citizens with 21st-century skills. This training answered that call directly. Participants didn’t just learn how to use digital tools. They learned how to solve problems, think critically, and create opportunities for themselves.
During an interview, Mr. Tirivashe Marinda, founder and director of Mother Africa STEM Initiative shared, “We wanted to break the barrier that says rural or small-town youth can’t compete in the digital space. Now they can.”
This local initiative connects to something much larger. Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 commits to transforming the country into an upper-middle-income society by 2030. Key to that vision is expanding access to technology and preparing youth to participate in a modern economy. The training in Masvingo brought that vision into the community, offering real-world skills that participants can use to earn, innovate, or grow their own ventures.
It also supports the broader priorities of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s blueprint for a prosperous and self-reliant Africa. Agenda 2063 places young people at the center of Africa’s transformation. That includes giving them digital skills to compete and lead in the global economy.
Participants in the Masvingo cohort walked away with more than certificates. Some are now offering freelance design services. Others are volunteering in local schools to teach digital basics. The impact is small but meaningful. It proves that youth, when given the right tools, can lead from the front.
The program’s coordinators say the plan is to grow the initiative into more communities.
“This first cohort showed us the potential. There’s demand, there’s interest, and most of all, there’s talent,” said one of the team members. “We will continue to build on this.”
As Zimbabwe’s economy continues to digitize, efforts like this one are not just helpful. They are necessary. Without intentional training and access, large sections of the population risk being left behind.
But on Kirton Street in Masvingo, the opposite is happening. Youth are gaining the tools to participate, compete, and lead in the digital space. They are beginning to write their own futures, one line of code or creative design at a time.
Applications for the next cohort will open soon. For updates, contact +263 771 552 208 or visit Mother Africa International their website, Facebook and Instagram.
