A powerful wave of ideological clarity and continental unity swept through the Rainbow Towers Hotel yesterday as the International Youth Summit on Land and Economic Freedom (IYSOLEF 2025) commenced in Zimbabwe’s capital.
Delegates from across Africa converged under the theme “Land and Economic Freedom: The Key to Africa’s Sustainable Development,” a subject that stirred not only intellectual debate but awakened deep historical memory and urgent economic aspirations. In his keynote welcome, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan Province, Hon. Senator Charles Tawengwa, delivered more than formal greetings, he offered a rallying cry for Africa’s youth to claim their rightful place in the ongoing struggle for self-determination, justice, and prosperity.
Framing the summit as more than an event, Hon. Tawengwa described it as a “bold reaffirmation of our collective values, voice, and vision as Africans.” His speech honoured the leadership of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, whose governance he described as inclusive and visionary, a leadership that he said has actively created platforms for youth to be seen, heard, and engaged in national development processes. It is through such deliberate empowerment, he noted, that young people are no longer on the periphery but at the very center of Africa’s policy and innovation spaces. This context, he explained, is what makes the summit both timely and transformative, as it opens room for the continent’s young leaders to reflect, strategize, and articulate a future that is truly theirs.
The Minister’s statement deeply explored the historical, economic, and symbolic dimensions of land in the African narrative. Land, he emphasized, is not merely a resource, it is the soul of African sovereignty, the origin of liberation struggles, and the foundation of future economic transformation. “In Africa, any talk of sustainable development that does not address land is fundamentally incomplete,” he said. He reminded the delegates that Zimbabwe’s own land reform, often misunderstood globally, was driven by a principle of justice and historical redress. Despite sanctions and international criticism, the country stood firm, and today, land is in the hands of the majority. That, he argued, is why Zimbabwe continues to progress with pride, resilience, and purpose.
Hon. Tawengwa paid tribute to the Africa Youth Congress and its Chairperson, Hon. Taurai Kandishaya, for convening the summit with such clarity and determination. He called on delegates not only to attend but to immerse themselves in the Zimbabwean experience: to visit communities, engage with youth, and witness firsthand the character of a nation rooted in dignity and self-belief. “You are not just welcome,” he said. “You are part of this unfolding story.”
The summit, he explained, must be understood within a broader global context. As Africa asserts itself in a rapidly changing, multipolar world, the youth must lead the charge in defining new development paths, rewriting economic narratives, and reclaiming control over the continent’s wealth. This, he insisted, could only be achieved through unity and ideological clarity among young people, not divided by borders, but bonded by a common mission.
Hon. Tawengwa also highlighted Harare Metropolitan Province as a practical example of economic opportunity. As the commercial and manufacturing hub of Zimbabwe, contributing 23.3% to national GDP, the province offers a wide array of investment opportunities in manufacturing, transport, waste management, construction, tourism, energy, and health. He noted that the province is currently implementing key infrastructure and housing development projects in alignment with national goals to modernize and industrialize the economy. He assured the summit that Harare stands ready to support youth-led innovation and enterprise, driving inclusive growth and ensuring that “no one and no place is left behind.”
Closing his remarks with a call to action, Hon. Tawengwa challenged the youth to use the summit as a space of bold imagination, honest reflection, and fearless debate. He urged them to revive the spirit of Pan-Africanism, not as nostalgia, but as a living, breathing movement of transformation. In that spirit, he declared Harare not only a host city, but a birthplace of new dreams for Africa.
