By Delicious Mathuthu
The Vice President (VP) of Zimbabwe, Hon. General (Retired) Dr. Constatino Chiwenga has officially re-opened the Chinhoyi Rural Training Centre in Mashonaland West Province on Friday (30/07/2023) after a two year closure for renovations and equipment upgrades.
The centre was established to train young people who have not made it academically, and have nothing to do, on practical skills.
The centre was founded in 1979, initially opened by one Roman Catholic Jesuit brother, Brother Simon.
Making his key note address at the official re-opening, the Vice President Dr. Chiwenga said the two year closure by the church was to modernise the facility.
He hailed the church for empowering school leavers with practical productive skills away from academic performance pressures.
“…the centre was closed two years ago to allow for renovations and the sourcing of new equipment.
“Let me hasten to congratulate the Roman Catholic Church for re-opening this training centre which plays a very important role of imparting life-skills to our young men and women.
“To this end, as they master their skills they will also become more productive and efficient in society.
“Despite all the challenges, you have dared to take the risk and start this great new project of imparting life skills to school leavers thereby meeting an urgent need among the many young people in the two provinces of Mashonaland West and Mashonaland Central that constitute the Diocese of Chinhoyi,” Dr. Chiwenga said.
The centre’s first enrolment was only 15 students and to date, over 800 students have been trained in different practical subjects.
The intake at the institution has increased from the initial 15, to 82 students and has increased its training areas.
The centre now has the capacity to train 120 full time students and 80 part-time students who will be at work during the day.
The centre trains students in areas like metalwork, carpentry, motor mechanics, machining, joinery, automobile electrics, welding and metal fabrication, building, cookery, cosmetology, plumbing and drain laying and clothing and textiles.
Dr. Chiwenga applauded the church for playing a part in the economic growth of the country through youth empowerment at the centre.
“The involvement of the Chinhoyi Diocese in technical and vocational education and training is not only an achievement in its own right but also an indication that the Roman Catholic Church is genuinely concerned with the economic growth of the country.
“…a glance at the investment you have made at this training centre, indicates that you are also contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially goals number 4, 5 and 9: that is, Quality Education, Gender Equality and Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure,” VP Chiwenga said.
The training Centre targets young people usually excluded by mainstream tertiary academic institutions that demand Ordinary and Advanced Level passes as entry points.
Vice President Dr. Chiwenga said those that have been viewed as failures in the academic spheres are excelling at such vocational institutions.
“You have deliberately chosen to train those that have had limited opportunities and others who are not academically gifted.
“What is amazing here is that those whom society has deemed failures in the academic sphere are excelling in practical skills at your august vocational institution.
“It is commendable that you are already engaging each department here in income-generating projects,” he said.
In an environment of drug abuse and increased criminal activities, there is need for training that inculcates in the youths good moral values and above all, good Christian principles to drive youths in the path of the right and the good, Dr. Chiwenga said.
He said the Roman Catholic Church is complementing government efforts on sustainable socio-economic growth which is knowledge driven.
“This institution we are opening here today will go a long way in complementing our policy thrust of creating a knowledge-driven economy which ultimately leads to sustainable socio-economic growth, innovation for industrialisation and the modernisation of our country,” Dr. Chiwenga said.
