Boys dzaMdara Set for Fourth Anniversary in Harare

ZANU PF-affiliated youth empowerment organisation Boys dzaMdara is preparing to mark its fourth anniversary in Harare during the first week of October, with the event expected to focus on youth entrepreneurship, community projects and efforts to combat drug and substance abuse.

The celebrations are expected to be attended by Vice President Kembo Mohadi and will bring together young people from across Zimbabwe and the diaspora, according to the organisation.

Boys dzaMdara describes itself as a youth lobby group focused on entrepreneurship and participation in the national economy, with its activities linked to the Government’s Vision 2030 agenda. The organisation’s national chairman, Hopewell Chako, has previously said the group seeks to support young people with business ideas and community-driven projects. The organisation has also been involved in youth empowerment and community initiatives in different provinces.

National spokesperson Tawanda Shanya said the anniversary would provide an opportunity for young people to showcase projects and engage Government ministries on issues affecting them.

“We are mobilising youth around the country, we are mobilising youth beyond borders, youth from the diaspora,” Shanya said.

He said Government ministries had been invited to participate in the event and respond to questions from young people.

The organisation is expected to showcase some of its income-generating projects, including a fence-making machine in Manicaland and regalia-printing equipment in Harare. Boys dzaMdara has previously reported receiving empowerment funding for projects involving machinery and production. In January, the organisation said equipment had been acquired for projects in several provinces, including a fence-making machine in Manicaland and sewing equipment in Masvingo. It also said a clothing and regalia production facility was operating at national level.

Shanya said such projects were intended to translate youth empowerment into practical economic activity.

“We have seen the fence-making machine which we bought for the Manicaland province. We also have seen the massive regalia printing machines for Harare province,” he said.

The organisation has also placed drug and substance abuse prevention among its youth priorities.

Shanya said Boys dzaMdara wanted to link economic empowerment with efforts to keep young people away from drugs and other substances.

“We are saying, us as youth, we are saying no to drugs and substance abuse,” he said.

The group has previously said it plans to conduct awareness activities on drug and substance abuse among young people.

The anniversary will also provide an opportunity for the organisation to highlight its relationship with Government empowerment programmes. Shanya credited President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration with providing funding that the organisation says has supported its projects.

“These funds are still working towards Vision 2030 and have given us the strength to expand our projects,” he said.

Boys dzaMdara has increasingly combined its political affiliation with entrepreneurship, community outreach and youth mobilisation.

In 2025, the organisation held youth empowerment activities and community initiatives, while its chapters have also undertaken projects in education, healthcare and income generation. The group has also participated in recent ZANU PF-linked youth activities, including the 2026 Munhumutapa Day preparations, where it showcased youth projects and supported initiatives involving poultry, piggery, sewing and fencing.

For its fourth anniversary, the organisation says the central message will be youth participation in economic development and national building. Shanya summed up the organisation’s message using the Government’s development slogan:

“Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo, brick by brick towards Vision 2030.”

Boys dzaMdara fourth anniversary