1. Report On Socio-Cultural
Factors, Including Gender
Barriers That Hinder Youth
Participation in Economic
Activities
A report compiled by Simelinkosi Dlomo
Of
Grassroots Theatre Company,
97 Lobengula Street, Bulawayo
Email: lisadlomogmail.com
C A R E I N T E R N A T I O N A L
N O . 8 R o s s , B e l g r a v i a , H a r a r e
+ 2 6 3 7 7 4 1 6 8 2 5 9
1 0 / 1 0 / 2 0 1 4

2. Executive summary
In September 22 2014, Care International embarked on a research on socio-cultural issues
including gender barriers that hinder youth participation in economic activities four districts
in Zimbabwe. The study was done by a team comprising CARE International in Zimbabwe, its
partners and Grassroots Theatre Company as consultants in four of the districts covered by
Youth Empowerment Programme. The study is not a profound analysis of socio-cultural
issues and gender barriers but was meant to get a general understanding of the social issues
coming out in different districts. The purpose of the study was to establish information that
will be used to develop a film. Therefore, the purpose of the report is to inform
development. However, there are a lot of issues that are mentioned in the report that will
not be raised in the film because of the duration of the film. Since the research was meant
to inform film development the following paragraph is of the methodology that was used
for data collection.
The districts were selected in a way that the research information will cover the diversity of
socio-cultural issues in different districts. Four districts namely Mutasa, Masvingo,
Beitbridge and Gwanda were chosen to represent the Shona and Ndebele communities, the
former being Shona communities representatives and the later Ndebele communities
representatives. Beitbridge was chosen because it different from other Ndebele
communities that are presented by Gwanda and the same applies to Masvingo. The
research was done in a way that those who came for came for focus group discussion and
interviews were our informants, it was kind of a random sampling technique. The researcher
used interviews and focus group discussion to collect data. Representatives from youths,
stakeholders and community leaders were interviewed so as to get the true information
based on the experiences of the target population. This then lead us to the following key
findings that are briefly mentioned in the following paragraph.
The key findings of the research were that the communities in Mutasa, Masvingo, Beitbridge
and Gwanda are characterised by high levels of gender biases, high levels of youth
unemployment, low levels of youth social and economic participation, stereo-typing, low
academic achievements among the youths, negative perceptions about youth among adults,
exclusion of youths from decision making at household and community levels, low self-
esteem and negative self-perception among youth, lack of projects and project skills. The
youth desire to make fast and easy cash and lack the patience, responsibility and
accountability required in running sustainable income generating projects. Given the limited
opportunities for projects, employment and income generating activities, the youth spend
some of their time in such risky activities as illegal gold panning, commercial and casual sex,
fish poaching, alcoholism, illegal firewood supply, cross border activities, drug abuse, and
illegal beer brewing and selling. For certain reasons mentioned in the report youths get
either limited or no support at all from family members, community members and

3. community leaders. Given these findings, the research came to the conclusions and
recommendations below.
The research observed that youth participation in economic activities remains minimal
because of socio-cultural practices, norms, values and beliefs as well as gender biases which
are embedded in socialization and religion (traditions and church doctrines), patriarchy,
gender roles, and submissive outshining the rest. The researcher therefore, recommends
knowledge coming up into skills training that will not define skills or people’s capabilities
according to gender. The difference is numbers was another issues that the researcher
observe, more women came to the meetings than men, therefore no matter how good and
helping the knowledge disseminated such meetings are, the societies will remain the same
because men who are heads of families will continue doing their practices because they do
not have knowledge. The researcher therefore recommends sensitisation so that more men
will also attend these meetings.

4. 1.0 Introduction
Care International with its partners; VIRL, Caritas and Dom Cap with their objective of youth
empowerment embarked on a research to identify socio-cultural factors, including gender barriers
that hinder youth participation in economic activities. Care included Grassroots Theatre Company as
consultants in this research for the purposes of film development that would be taken back to the
communities to trigger discussion.
2.0 Background and rationale of research
This particular research focuses specifically on social, cultural and gender factors that hinder
youth participation in economic activities. It identifies socio-cultural issues as well as gender
barriers hindering economic participation of youth based on experiences of youth in
Mutasa, Masvingo, Beitbridge and Gwanda. It also identifies the influence of culture and
social beliefs, norms and traditions in economic activities. It also assesses the impact of
gender in youth empowerment. The purpose of the research is to inform film development.
Therefore, the research will suggest ways of overcoming those constraints to inform the
development of a film that will be taken back to communities to excite discussion and
action.
3.0 Areas of study
The research focuses on youth empowerment. It is a social study of youth development. It
explores the social norms, beliefs, values; cultural belief, practices and cherished traditions;
as well as gender barriers that hinder youth involvement in economic activities in four
districts namely Mutasa, Masvingo, Beitbridge and Gwanda. For a long time development
agencies have had the same goal of developing communities and they have research on
other issue that hinder economic development and addressed those issues, however the
communities seem to be the same or worse than before as Mupaso T (2013) observe that
each year development programmes always fall off the walls. In a bid to find the reason
behind that, this research was done focusing on the unchallenged areas of culture, social
values and norms as well as gender based on the experiences of the people in those
communities.
4.0 Methodology
The researcher used focused group discussions with youths and adults; and one on one
interviews with community leaders and stakeholders to obtain information on socio-cultural
factors and gender barriers hindering youth participation in economic activities. The
researcher used random sampling to collect data, that is to say, the interviews were done
with those who came for focus group discussions. The researcher able to get first-hand
information which is not biased from people who are directly involved. It also helped the
researcher to get even voice and body language so as to help in film development by

5. showing people’s emotions aroused by socio-cultural factors and gender barriers to
economic participation of youth in the film.

6. 5.0 Key findings
5.1 Mutasa district
5.1.1 Interview participants
The interviews conducted were10. The male youths were 10, female youths 17, adults 24
(females), key stakeholders 7(Ministry of youth, Ministry of women affairs, SMEs, ZRP,
health personnel, teacher and chief) in numbers.
5.1.2 Time utilisation by youths
Youths spend most of their time gardening, farming, collecting firewood, buying and selling
clothes, collecting manure, hair dressing, selling tomatoes and fish, poultry rearing
(indigenous) for domestic consumption, brick moulding and doing part time jobs. Most of
these activities are done by men due to their masculine nature hence female youths have
limited access to income generating activities leading to lack of female involvement in
economic activities. Others cross borders in search for employment in South African farms
because of lack of employment in Zimbabwe and they value employment more than
entrepreneurship, others because they have no capital to start IGAs. Adults appreciate the
efforts of most young people. There are a few young people who get encouragement from
parents to start IGAs. However, though they get encouragement from parents to do part
time jobs and IGAs, they wait for parents to initiate which really affect their involvement in
economic activities. Therefore, the film should encourage youth to initiate change in their
lives and to learn to be independent.
5.1.3 Youth engagement in IGAs
Female youths buy used clothing from Mozambique and sell them (huyauhodhe). Others
buy and sell tomatoes at Manica Bridge. A few males do brick moulding and carpentry.
Others cut and sell firewood. They gain some money to sustain their families though it’s not
sufficient. Youths use other products for consumption, for example vegetables, tomatoes,
chicken. Youths of the area participate in community development through man power.
They build toilets and fix roads for the community in food for work programmes. The film
should therefore, show how youths who are engaged in IGAs are benefiting from them so as
to encourage other youths to stand up for themselves and initiate their own development.
The film should also show that the desire of fast and easy cash by youths is dangerous to
them; they are in danger of getting HIV/AIDS and getting jailed.
5.1.4 Support from family members

7. Youths get support from their children who provide labour doing household chores while
their parents are doing IGAs. Their children also assist them with ideas. Parents of youths
encourage them to do IGAs.
However the family at most is the major hindrance of youth participation in economic
activities. Most families lack the finances to support youths. Sometimes parents take
advantage of youths, they borrow project money from them and never return it, and they
also buy on credit and never pay back. All these are a drawback of youth participation in
economic activities. Their husbands sometimes sell business products for beer. When crisis
or emergencies arise in the family, youths are “forced or emotionally blackmailed” to use
the money of projects to take care those issues. For example paying fees for their young
brothers and sisters, taking a sick person to the hospital and paying for the medication using
project money as one interviewee was quoted “hatingaregimaivachifamariiriko, kana
vanavachidzingwakuchikoro” [we cannot let our mother die or children chased from school
when the money is there]. Sometimes money for business is also used to cater for funeral
expenses in the family. All these lead to failure of projects. Theft is another serious setback
in youths’ economic involvement. When it comes to buying and selling, sometimes female
youths are not allowed or are discouraged to participate because those who move up and
down and abroad doing that business are accused of infidelity, they are said to be
promiscuous. Therefore, some youths cannot do some projects because their husbands
won’t let them. Illegal cross border is done at night and is risky, hence female youths to
cross border. Families also discourage youths through their piercing words “Ah! Kutengesa,
dzinotengwanani?Tarisamainhingivakambozamakutengesa,
zvakatengwanani?Chimbosiyananazvo” [Buying and selling! what market will you have?
Look so and so who once tried selling, who bought those goods?].
Housekeeping and child care are primary functions of women, participation of men in these
functions is only partially wanted. Therefore, female youths are expected to do their
assumed duties and to prioritise them, hence their involvement in economic activities is less
valued as compared to housework.
Decision making is another hindering factor of female youth participation in economic
activities. In case of conflict, men have the final say as the heads of families, for example in
choosing whether to take a loan or not, to participate in IGAs and which project to do. The
film should therefore show how families’set-ups affect youth participation and success in
projects.
5.1.5 Support from community members
The community is the market for youths. The community buys the products that the youth
who have produced in their income generating activities, for example vegetables, chickens,
clothes, bricks and tomatoes. The community also employs them to do piece jobs for them,
like clearing of land, thatching.

8. However, the community also hinders participation through gender roles. Women who
choose to pursue entrepreneurship, careers and higher education are stigmatised, and are
often accused of trying to become men and abandoning their children if they pursue
anything outside the role of mother, maid, mistress and other feminine jobs or activities.
Men who have acquired skills of hairdressing, tailoring are not allowed to practise their skills
in the community. One interviewee was quoted saying, “Munharaundainoiyi,
hatingatenderimunhurumekuitahair dresser kana tailor. Hazviiti kana.Anengeachibatapapi
kana achi measure burst kana waist yemukadzi?
Hatingabvumimunhurumekubatamisoroyevakadzivedu, hayiwabodo!!!”[In this community
we cannot accept a male hairdresser or tailor. It is a taboo. How will he measure the burst
or waist of a woman without touching her? We cannot allow a man touching the heads of
our women. It’s outrageous] and all male youths were in agreement, while female youths
saw no problem with a male hairdresser or male tailor. Female youths also are not allowed
to do thatching. This is a hindrance to economic participation people cannot use their skills
for their empowerment since they are associated with a particular gender.
The community also stereotyped all female youths who do buying and selling, cross border
as promiscuous, discouraging them hence hindering economic participation. There are
expectations from the society that hinder participation of youths in economic activities, for
example getting a job after finishing school, brick moulding is not expected from someone
who has a degree, hence youths would rather do nothing than such IGAs that are looked
down upon in the community. Rural kind of jobs are looked down upon, hence males are
choosy when it comes to skills training, they would rather do motor mechanics which is
classy than brick laying.
The film therefore should trigger a discussion around the issue of gender roles, that is to
say, biology has anything or nothing to do with people’s capabilities and interests. People
should choose their occupations according to capabilities and interests not because those
roles are expected of them. People should know that gender does not define people, so that
males would exercise their skills that were traditional defined and female professions or
roles, and females likewise.
5.1.6 Support from community leaders
The headmen and chief encourage the youths to work well together and allow them to do
projects. Some give them land where they can do their projects. However, some community
leaders perceive youths as people who are impatient, lazy, unstable, want easy and fast
money. Others see them as people with determination, visions, and only lack opportunities,
employment and capital to start IGAs. The film should express the cries of the youths fora
chance to participate in activities that will enhance their development.
5.1.7 Stereo-typing

9. Young people who move up and down crossing the border to countries like South Africa and
Mozambique are promiscuous according to the community and husbands’ responses when
wives seek their permission to cross border “wakudakuitafambi” [you want to become a
prostitute], and as observed by interviewees “wakugeza, wakushandawafambi” [once you
try smartness, and start working, you are a prostitute]. Women tend to oppress men when
they are successful, “wakubatamariwakudakuita mambo”[when you earn money you want
to be worshiped].The community therefore needs to be sensitised on stereo-types, that
being a business woman does not mean you are loose and does not define your behaviour
or change it; neither does it make women lose their respect but enhances personal
enrichment and self-sustenance for the development of the community as a whole.
5.1.8 Youth and adult perceptions
Stakeholders, youths and adults agree that youths lack employment, funding to start IGAs
and skills training as well as knowledge on projects. Adults perceive youths as being less
responsible and having a dependency syndrome. Stakeholders are of the idea that adults
have a sense of responsibility, they think of development while youths expect everything to
be given to them, some even misuse loans. Adults are concerned with the behaviour of
youths, youths are said to be engaged in drug and alcohol abuse, affairs with older women,
and theft. Therefore adults see danger in youths getting infected with HIV/AIDS and STIs and
increase in deaths rate of youths leading to poverty and deficiency in man power. The
youths also seem to have lost their roots as adults and stakeholders indicated. Youths have
forgotten their culture and hence are now a confused generation. Technology has destroyed
the culture of people which gave the youth dignity and moral values. Youths also agree that
some of their peers have lost moral values. Sometimes youths are hindered from economic
participation because of political affiliations (e.g. projects may not be accepted in the
community because community leaders perceive that they have something to do with
politics or they are from a certain political party, and sometimes youths are not given
projects because the leaders do not include them in projects because they are of a certain
political party). Adults and youths are therefore of the opinion that politicians should desist
from using the youths as political ponies. Traditional leaders lack trust in young people
hence youths are seeing the need for traditional leaders to learn to appreciate and accept
that youths can do something meaningful economically. The film should portray the
concerns of adults and persuade the youths in the right direction. It should also in way
persuade the traditional leaders to give youths a chance to prove themselves.
5.1.9 Sources of money for youths
Youths get money through buying and selling, brick moulding, gardening, part time jobs, and
cross border employment. The money that they earn in these is not sufficient hence the
youth aspire to have opportunities and funding to start their own businesses. The film

10. should show the efforts made by youths, efforts to earn an honest living, for them to be
appreciated in the community and the need for the entire community to support these
efforts in order to have a responsible and cooperative youth generation.
5.1.10 Differences between male and female youth participation
Research findings demonstrates that female youths are not as liberal as male youths hence
more male youths participate in economic activities as to female youths. Parents are over
protective of female youths and govern the time and places they go to. Female youths are
socialised to be submissive and to be led, hence they do not believe in them being leaders
hence hindering their participation in economic activities. Most of the IGAs are masculine
hence female youths because of their feminine nature cannot participate in them. Most of
females’ time is spent in child care and housework hence males have a lot of time in IGAs as
compared to female youths. Decision making is mainly for males hence females may not
participate in some economic activities because they are hindered by their husbands or
fathers. The film should show how socialisation has made it very difficult for development to
succeed and give people a room to decide on what to do with the kind of socialisation that
is exercised in their communities.
5.1.11 Cultural and social issues
Apostolic sects have guidelines that hinder economic activities, for example opening of a
bottle store. Those who are always on the road are said to be unstable. Females selling in a
bottle store are said to be promiscuous. When females do gardening, they are accused of
using goblins which help them lift heavy loads. In their culture, thatching is seen as a male
prerogative. The elements of convention or tradition seem to play a dominant role in
deciding which occupations fit in with which gender roles. For example if someone is a
hairdresser or a tailor, the community expects that person to be female and if someone is a
carpenter or brick maker, they expect the person to be male. Patriarchy plays a big role in
hindering economic participation of female youths as one interviewee noted “kuti baba
ndokutimutongi. Kana ndisingadikutimudzimaiwanguaendekunosweraachidzidziswa
business nevamwevarumeachisiyavanavasinakubikirwahaendi.Ndokuti baba ka”[By virtue of
being a man I’m the judge. If I have no desire for my wife spent most of her time in skills
straining by other men without cooking for children she won’t go. That’s being a
man].Decision making therefore is male dominated. The primary role of women is
housework, and child care. The workplace is not the primary area of women. Therefore the
community would rather have males doing IGAs and females doing housework and child
care. Youths of the area also lack operating space and have market challenges. The film
should show how patriarchy and religion have been used to sabotage youths and especially
female youths so as to solicit for change in the way such cultural practices and social values
and believes are exercised.

11. 5.2Masvingo district
5.2.1 Interview participants
The number of interviews conducted was 11; with male youths 16, female youths 17, adults
15, and key stakeholders 8 (Ministry of youth, councillor, ZRP, SMEs, teachers, headmen,
District coordinator and Ministry of women affairs).
5.2.2 Time utilisation by youths
Research observes that male youths spend most of their time poaching fish and selling,
playing soccer, drinking beer, lingering and loitering. Female youths spend most of their
time doing household chores. This is because there is no income generating activities going
on in the area. An idlesociety is a danger even to itself. Therefore, the film should encourage
youths to make their own decisions and have access to development related resources that
are needed to enhance their development activities.
5.2.3 Youth engagement in IGAs
Females do hairdressing, selling fruits and vegetables. Males are engaged in fish poaching
and part time jobs that arise. The gains contribute to small items like sugar and salt in the
household. Both are engaged in agriculture and Bata trade (food for work or bucket of
maize for grinding of maize to mealie-meal). The youths who have nothing to do are many.
There are no projects done in the area specifically for youths. Many youths cannot poach
because they fear to be arrested since they don’t have fishing licences because they are
expensive as compared to profit that is made, they are hard to get and they expire daily.
Other used to do a project of firewood supply and they were stopped by EMA and those
who protest are arrested. There was once a fishing project initiated by Caritas. They bought
all the necessary equipment; boat, life jackets and nets. They were registered, but the
project collapsed when monitoring wasdiscontinued. The film should encourage youths to
embark on legal projects so that they will not have trouble with the law. It should also teach
them responsibility and accountability, that sometimes their unfavourable situation is
caused by their own actions of irresponsibility and unaccountability.
5.2.4 Support from family members
A few youths get support from families to start IGAs but misuse the money. The parents
therefore feel that youths are irresponsible and cannot initiate meaningful development in
their own lives. They feel that youth only wants to be goalkeepers as if they are disabled
people. The film therefore should portray irresponsible characters and responsible ones and
their fate which was driven by their behaviours.
Most of the families do not have funds to support youths to start IGAs. Some families
though they might have something to sign up for surety that the loan givers would take
when the loan applicant fail to pay back, do not help youths to get loans because they don’t

12. trust them since they easily give up, are impatient and cannot be trusted with money. The
film should persuade parents to give youth the benefit of doubt and a second chance to
those who have already misused their first chances.
5.2.5 Support from community members
According to elders of the community, the community is perceived as a jealous community;
they would rather go to town or far to buy something than buy from their fellow community
members therefore the youths lack market for their products. They might get licence to fish
for a day and catch nothing or their products don’t get market and thus leading to failure in
economic activities hence discouragement in economic participation. The film should
address issues of jealousy in the community, and promote working and living together in
harmony for the development of the community.
5.2.6 Support from community leaders
Fishing projects are not allowed in the community because people fish with nets. People are
arrested for using nets in fishing thus hindering economic participation. EMA
representatives in the community are eyes and ears of EMA and those who do firewood
supply in the community are arrested. The film should make the community leaders
understand that they are the shepherds and they have to look after their own flock; if their
flock is dying in their hands it shows that there is something wrong with the shepherd, there
is something that the shepherd is not doing and that the shepherd is lacking in his
shepherding skills. The film should make leaders understand that the empowerment of their
youths lay in their hands, that they can aid or sabotage youth empowerment. The film
should be developed in a way that community leaders wouldacknowledge their
responsibilities in economic activities, that is, to educate the youth on which procedures to
follow. There is also need for youths to actively seek information and do projects in a legal
way.
5.2.7 Stereo typing
Masvingo community has the belief that youths who move a lot are promiscuous. This is not
true at all. People should understand that one person’s behaviour does not define the
behaviour of the rest of the people who do the same business, behaviour is not contagious.
The film should therefore sensitise people on such kind of stereo-types because they really
hinder youth participation in economic activities henceforth affecting youth empowerment.
5.2.8 Youth and adults perceptions
Stakeholders and adults are of the idea that youths cannot be trusted with money. They
strongly believe youths are irresponsible. They also consider youths as people of unclear
objectives or goals, people who easily give up when the leader backs down. They also

13. believe youths are too dependent. The film should raise the theme of dependency
syndrome, responsibility, accountability and second chance.
5.2.9 Sources of money for the youth
The youths of the area generate income through piece jobs, fish poaching, selling of
tomatoes and vegetables.Youths should be given opportunities to participate in activities
that will enhance their development. The film should show that the participation of youths
in Masvingo will lead to personal enrichment, self-sufficiency, independence and
community and economic development.
5.2.10 Differences between male and female youth participation
Female youths spend most of their time nurturing kids. Married female youth’s participation
in economic activities lay in the decisions made by their husbands. Some males are even
aggressive when they disagree with their female counterparts, some impose threats. Hence
the female youth participation in economicactivities is limited. Males decide on loans and
IGAs and are the initiators of and supervisors of IGAs. The film should solicit for equal power
on childbearing issues, women should also have a say on when to have children, and the
spacing of child birth so that at least they don’t spend almost all their time nursing infants
and on maternity but also get involved in economic activities. The film should also help
female youths speak out on issues of gender based violence and get involved in decision
making.
5.2.11 Cultural and social issues
Socialisation is a hindering factor of economic participation, women are socialised to be
house wives and child bearers, and are responsible for nurturing of children. Females are
supporters of men who are heads of families; they work together for the good of the family
as they strongly believe “behind every successful man is a hard working woman”. Their hard
work therefore, has to be seen in their housework. Females are groomed to be subjects,
submissive, some hence lack self-esteem, they believe they cannot be leaders; instead they
are wives and mothers. Male are dominant in whatever activity is done in the community.
Culture says decision making is for elders; therefore youths cannot get involved in the
projects that elders are against for example immigration of female youths. Bride price is
another factor that has been used to hinder economic participation, for example some men
in the district after they have paid the bride price they make decisions over their wives
“handinamukadzianoshanda” [I will not have a working wife], hence hindering female youth
participation in economic activities. The film should therefore pose questions around social
norms, values, and practices like socialisation, patriarchy and early marriages which hinder
youth participation in economic activities.

14. 5.3Beitbridge district
5.3.1 Interview participants
The interviews that were conducted were 7; youths were 24 consisting of 11 males and 13
females, adults were 26 consisting of 12 males and 14 females, key stakeholders were 5
namely church leader, ZRP, Ministry of youth, Ministry of women affairs and education
inspector representatives.
5.3.2 Time utilisation by youths
Beitbridge has a mobile population of youths. You meet new faces every day. Youths in the
area are grouped into four segments; there are those who are into education, those who
are into clubs (social activities) for example soccer, those who are into economic activities
despite their educational level and those who are into household chores, child bearing and
marriage. Beitbridge is too hot, therefore outdoor activities are limited, the youths would
rather play pool and snooker indoors. The film therefore should help people understand
their environment and try to make use of available resources for youth empowerment.
5.3.3 Youth engagement in IGAs
The youths in urban setup are involved in buying and selling for easy cash, for example table
charm products for ladies. Male youths buy fruits and vegetables from across the border
using their bicycles and sell them. Others are into money laundering and savings and lending
as groups and as associations. Others do money exchange. There are others who are into
prostitution (commercial sex work). Most of the youth are involved in border jumping,
especially those in rural areas. Male youths from rural setup are involved in manure digging
and selling, sewing, car washing, brick laying, hammering poultry and feeding cattle for
adults. There are others who carry pit sand and water to new stands where there is much
infrastructural development going on. Other projects like gardening cannot be done in the
area because of climate conditions. The community is sustained by the youths who go
outside the country for employment. When they go to South Africa they plough back to the
community, they build and extend houses. There are remarkable young people who have
become successful and are sponsoring their former schools with soccer ball, kits and also
sponsoring the soccer clubs in the community. The film should show the risks or dangers of
sex work as a means of earning money and discourage such behaviours. The film should also
show how those youths who are engaged in IGAs are benefiting from those IGAs thereby
encouraging other youths to participate in economic activities. The film should also inform
the youth that easy fast cash schemes are dangerous; female youths are in danger of getting
infected with and spreading HIV and AIDS, male youths in danger of getting jailed.
5.3.4 Support from family members
Families who are able to support their youths by money to start projects. Other families
support by giving them manure and scorch carts to carry manure to Beitbridge town from

15. rural areas. Most families lack funds to support young people. There are some young boys
who dig wells for the community so that they can grow vegetables. The film should admire
youth determination and good efforts. It should also show appreciation by youths of the
efforts made by their families to support them.
5.3.5 Support from community members
The community buys goods that the youth would be selling. The film should uphold the
theme of collectivism (togetherness) and discourage individualism. The community must
understand that united society in unconquerable, its walls are so strong that nothing can
bring it down. Therefore, the community holding hands with youths, backing youth
programmes, giving them opportunities in economic activities, encouraging them to engage
in income generating activities would see the participation of youths in economic activities
increase.
5.3.6 Support from community leaders
The research observes that there are few headmen and chiefs who expose their people to
economic activities. Otherwise, as the community and stakeholders see it, the support from
community leaders is not clear. Stakeholders and adults are of the view that community
leaders hinder participation of youth in economic activities. According to stakeholders the
donations of boreholes from UNISCEF have been locked because the municipality say that
the community is no longer using their water when those boreholes were helping the
disadvantaged youths. Adults are of the view that EMA and ZRP have made it difficult for
youths to carry on their projects; they take away their carts and arrest them. Council
security takes away their carts and they have to pay a fine to take their carts back and that
takes all the money they would have worked for, hence discouragement in economic
participation.However, the youths are also expected to abide by government regulations so
that they will not have problems with the law. The film should therefore express concerns of
adults, youths and other stakeholders that the youths needs support of their leaders and
also bring out the need for youths to follow the regulations of the government.
5.3.7 Stereo typing
In Beitbridge youths who are in the business of buying and selling, with the nature of their
business,they will be moving a lot and are believed to be promiscuous.Many youths
therefore with fear of stigmatisation have remained without income generating activities.
The film should therefore discourage such thinking because it affects youth participation to
economic activities
5.3.8 Youth and adults perceptions
Immorality is at its peak amongst the youths, which exposes them to dangers of getting
infected with HIV/AIDS and STIs which are a hindrance to economic participation. Adults

16. strongly believe human rights and children’s rights have spoiled the behaviour of the youth
of this generation and destroyed their culture. They now confuse responsibilities for rights.
The culture of people that taught the youth moral values has been tossed aside. Family
bonds / unit has been destroyed, it’s more of individualism than collectivism that used to
govern communities. People are no longer united hence it’s difficult for youth
empowerment to take place. People can only be developed from their culture not outside
their culture. In an interview one stakeholder observed that no project in the area has
created employment for more than 20 youths. Others believe youths seem to be
irresponsible because they are in need, they are underprivileged. The youths of the area are
not competent to work in offices and they go to South Africa out of desperation because
they are not qualified. The youths are exploited by the system and they lose value in it and
are driven away. They do not have a sense of belonging because they cannot even use their
own language (Venda) in business sphere or school and hindering their participation in
economic activities. The film should highlight issues of youth exploitation, immorality,
human rights, youth prioritisation, theme of unity and love.
5.3.9 Sources of money for the youths
Youths of the area generate income from money exchange, savings and lending, IGAs, cross
border activities. However these activities do not have much profit, hence the youth of the
area resort to border jumping to work in South Africa since Beitbridge is situated at the
border. Those who cross borders plough back handsomely thereby influencing large rates of
youth border jumpers. The film should encourage education of youths in various areas of
development so that the youth will become empowered, self-confident creative,
responsible and cooperative.
5.3.10 Differences between male and female youth participation
In some communities people are still embedded in traditional practices, for example that a
girl child should just stay at home, marry, bear children and do household chores. This
hinders participation of most females in economic activities. Most activities that are done in
the area require strength hence most males are engaged in economic activities. The film
should arouse debate on traditional practices so that the community will review the status
quoand plan on how to support youth participation in economic activities.
5.3.11 Cultural and social issues
Immorality is a hindrance to youth participation in economic activities. The youth by being
immoral end up being infected with HIV/AIDS and become unable (lack of strength)to
participate in economic activities or exclude themselves because they feel like people are
talking about them. Some female youths, are banned by their parents and husbands from
participating in economic activities because infidelity of other female youths.

17. There are some cultural aspects in communities that hinder participation of female youths
in economic activities, for example that a girl child is a mother and a wife, which is her
ultimate role. Business women are discouraged in such communities. There are also other
communities in which people are not exposed to economic activities at all hence hindering
participation of youths in economic activities.
Religion is also another factor hindering youth participation in economic activities. Some
religions advocate a submissive role for women and others like Apostolic Sects prevent
youths from interacting with other youths of different faith in the community. The film
should therefore, touch on the theme of immorality, socialisation and religious values
affecting youth participation in economic activities.
5.4Gwanda district
5.4.1 Interview participants
The interviews that were conducted were 7 in number. There were 18 youths(5 males and
13females), 7 adultsof which 2 were males and 3 were females, 5 key stakeholders including
the chief, ministry of youth, ministry of women affairs, teachers, headman.
5.4.2 Time utilisation by youths
Most youths spend their time drinking beer in shops, lingering in the corners and roads, in
social activities like ball games, others in economic activities like green gardens, irrigation
schemes of their parents, buying and selling though mainly adults, fetching firewood and
selling to teachers and brick moulding. The film should show the need for youths to have
projects so that they will not become a danger to the community e.g. by becoming thieves
or robbers.
5.4.3 Youth engagement in IGAs
Youthsinthe area mainly do illegal gold panning, brewing beer and illegal selling of it in
Gwanda town and less of brick moulding and firewood supply. Otherwise there are no
projects for youth that they do for their development. Money they get from the mentioned
activities is usually misused especially male youths; they use it for beer drinking. The film
should show that youths are often in contrary with the law because they have no income
generating activities to earn them money to sustain their families. The film should also show
dangers of going against the law.
5.4.4 Support from family members
Families lack finance to support young people to start income generating activities. For
those who do small businesses (brew beer for sell), the parents and husbands borrow from
them money and never return it hence leading to failure of projects or discouragement to

18. continue in economic activities. The film should then show how displeased the youths are
because their families take advantage of them. It should also solicit for youth support in
economic activities from family members.
5.4.5 Support from community members
Community members buyyouths’ products. By buying from the youths, the community in a
way encourages participation of youths in economic activities.
The community sometimes does not support them in cases of conflict or sour relations due
to immoral activities (for example married people involved in sexual affairs with other
married or unmarried people) happening in the community. Youths observed that
“sometimes the community is jealous”, for example someone decides to start selling
vegetables and tomatoes and everyone in the community buys and sells the same thing,
leading less demands (market),loss and finally failure of project. The community also hinders
youth participation in economic activities by stigmatising youths, especially female youths
who go to meetings and labelling them as promiscuous. The film therefore should address
issues of stigmatisation, and encourage team spirit within the community. The film should
show that the community is the sea and the youths are fish in that sea, therefore if the
water in the sea is poisoned or the sea dries up all the fish will die.
5.4.6 Support from community leaders
Research findings indicate that there is no significant support that youths get from
community leaders. The film should address the concerns of adults and youths that the
community leaders should accept every development agency and not discriminate when it
comes to distribution of resources for project implementation.
5.4.7 Stereo typing
Youths who go to youth development meetings are said to be promiscuous. IGAs are
considered to be programmes for the uneducated members of the society. Youths therefore
are ashamed of participating in IGAs, they would rather not do anything that to be seen
engaging in IGAs. The film should therefore give a clear understanding of IGAs. The film
should also dismiss the idea that female business youths are promiscuous.
5.4.8 Youth and adults perceptions
Elders now drink with youth and when they are drunk they say anything which makes it
difficult for elders to correct or rebuke youths when they do wrong. Respect therefore has
decreased because of that. Hence youths do not see value in the advice given by their
elders. The film should remind adults that they are the role models for youths and good
behaviour advocators therefore they must lead by example.
5.4.9 Sources of money for the youths

19. Youths in Gwanda earn income from illegal gold panning, brewing and selling of beer. The
youths brew beer as groups and sell it in Gwanda town. The film should show appreciation
of the efforts made by youths, and it should also encourage youths to obey the laws of the
country for their own good (so that they can get support from their leaders because they
have no problem with them).
5.4.10 Differences between male and female youth participation
Research findings observe that when it comes to participation in economic activities, female
youths have a lot of challenges because they have too many responsibilities in the
household. Maternity also is a setback to participation in economic activities when female
youths spend a lot of time heavily pregnant that they cannot do projects that require
strength or when they have just given birth and spend time nursing babies. However more
females are engaged in economic activities because they have to take care of children
rejected by their fathers.
Early marriages also hinder female youth’s participation in economic activities in that most
of female youths when married are expected and required to spend most of their time
doing household chores as wives and nursing babies, and sometimes when they are under
the control of their husbands cannot not make decisions to participate in economic
activities.
Female youths also face problems of access to their inputs, including credit (capital or
money). Female youths face greater challenges than male, particularly with regard to
participation in rural cooperatives and access to credit, loans, training and agricultural
extension. These difficulties mainly arise from cultural practices and stereo-types (e.g.
women’s role within the family and on interactions between persons of different sexes) and
fromsocio-economic factors (e.g. access to credit, females’ higher illiteracy rates-lack of
knowledge that leads to ignorance, and lack of information about available credit
programmes.)
The film should therefore, address the theme of early marriages, access to loans, equal
sexual power control of males and females, and maledominance.
5.4.11 Cultural and social issues
Researchdiscerns that immorality is a hindrance to youth participation in economic
activities. Youths engage in sexual activities and get infected and become unfit to participate
in economic activities. Moreover, most of the people in the area believe in formal
employment. IGAs are viewed as activities for uneducated people, thus hindering youth
participation in economic activities.

20. Socio-cultural norms build notions of masculinity and femininity which in turn create
unequal power relations between men and women. This power imbalance impacts women
and men’s access to key resources, information and their sexual interactions.
The film should therefore show how unequal power relations of male and females have
limited female youth participation in economic activities. The film shouldalso inform people
that IGAs are for everyone, they do not discriminate. It should also make people see the
value of entrepreneurship than to wait for opportunities of formal employment that will
never come.

21. 6.0 Conclusions
Several barriers affecting youth participation in economic activities have been identified in
the above discussion. Youths, especially female youths are inhibited from practising
activities they desire and their rights are denied by social norms and customs of their
societies. It has been noted that systematic gender based biases are one of the major issues
limiting female youth participation in engaging and accessing economic related resources.
One of the issues discussed in this research is that credit constraints for youths put severe
limit on the fullparticipation of youths in economic activities, thereby leading to less
contribution to economic development and self sufficiency of rural community.
Research observations suggest social beliefs (e.g. a girl child’s should be groomed for
marriage, women’s place is within her household, gender define roles for people in a
society) and cultural practices(like patriarchy, socialisation, lobola) and religious values (like
submission of women and discouraging of youth interactions)hinder youth participation in
economic activities. Through culture, elements of convention or tradition seem to play a
dominant role in deciding which occupations fit in with which gender roles. Hence there are
roles that are associated with a particular gender. Culture also strengthens patriarchy.
Culturally men are decision makers and sometimes males use that power to exploit female
youths. Research also observes that gender roles and socialisation play a greater role in
hindering participation of youths in economic activities.Youths do not have freedom to
choose projects because of fear of stigmatization since some projects are associated with a
particular gender. Through socialisation, youths have learnt and accepted roles in the
society. Certain dreams and aspirations of youths have been discouraged through
socialisation. All these hinder youth participation in economic activities.
7.0 Recommendations
 The researcher recommends that film development should be based on the following
themes; stigma and taboos, socialisation, gender roles, male dominance, stereo-
typing, religious values, lobola, dependency syndrome, collectivism and immorality.
 The researcher recommends gender mainstreaming to be done in the community and
among children at an early age.
 All four communities need sensitisation on cultural practices, traditions, beliefs and
social norms and values that hinder youth participation in economic activities.
 Development agencies and youth organisations that have the objectives of
economically empowering youth should bemandated to orient the youths of the
benefits of being patriotic, staying in their country.
 Youths need orientation first followed by vocational training then funding later.
Funding should be given to people who have been empowered in terms of self-esteem
and knowledge.
 Communities need moral formation.

22.  Youth organisations should plan development projects with the people not for the
people.
 Development agencies should monitor projectsin communities.
 Community leader should be sensitised to see the potential of the youth and to
support them in their activities and not to use them to achieve their political goals.