HARARE - A government and private fund to empower the youth has allegedly been politicised by Indigenisation and Empowerment minister Saviour Kasukuwere, benefitting only Zanu PF youths.

Deputy minister of Indigensation and Empowerment Tongai Matutu told the Daily News Kasukuwere was distributing the funds in a partisan manner.

“The Old Mutual-Cabs-handled Kurera-Ukondla Youth Fund is being disbursed by Cabs, working in conjunction with the Indigenisation ministry and a board of trustees,” said Matutu.

He said Kasukuwere has hijacked the whole process as he is now solely distributing the funds to Zanu PF members and youths.

“We know he took $500 000 to distribute to Zanu PF youths in Mashonaland East and Manicaland,” Matutu said.

“He also went with $200 000 to Chiredzi. The question therefore, is who is getting the money? I don’t think youths from our parties are getting it.”

“I understand why youths are clamouring out there because the whole system is compromised and there is no transparency. This seems more like a Zanu PF project for their youths.”

Kasukuwere could not immediately comment on the matter as his mobile phone was unavailable.

Cabs set aside $11 million and Stanbic $20 million for a youth fund facility under the indigenisation drive.

However, the deputy minister said out of 10 000 applications for the Cabs fund, only 668 have so far been approved, 10 months after the facility was launched.

Matutu said the Stanbic fund was difficult to access because it needed collateral security whilst the CBZ fund was not in circulation.

Promise Mkwananzi, the mainstream MDC youth assembly secretary-general said youths from his party are not accessing the money from the youth funds because it is a Zanu PF project.

“The funds are meant to win Zanu PF votes and empower its kith and kin otherwise the ordinary youths will gain nothing from it. Anyone genuinely interested in empowering people economically must be concerned about the political dispensation,” Mkwananzi said.

‘Kasukuwere politicising youth fund’Indigenisation and Empowerment minister, Saviour Kasukuwere.