By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
HARARE — Ambassador Apphia Nyasha Musavengana has officially concluded her tenure as Deputy SADC Youth Leader in Empowerment, reflecting on a period marked by significant regional transitions and a deepening focus on youth and women’s economic participation.
In a statement released as her leadership cycle came to a close, Ambassador Musavengana described the period from 2024 to date as coinciding with “an important phase in the development of the Southern African Development Community.”
The region witnessed a transition of leadership, with Zimbabwe assuming the SADC Chairpersonship in August 2024, followed by Madagascar in August 2025, and South Africa taking over in August 2026.
“These transitions were accompanied by a renewed emphasis on industrialisation, agricultural transformation, energy, infrastructure, and the development of human capital,” Ambassador Musavengana said.
Connecting Youth to Regional Opportunities
Throughout her tenure, Ambassador Musavengana, who is also the founder and President of the Concord for Young Women in Business (COYWIB) Global Zimbabwe, worked to connect young women to business, leadership, and regional opportunities.
Participation in regional platforms, including the SADC Industrialisation Week in Antananarivo, provided an opportunity to bring the perspective of young women entrepreneurs into discussions on industrialisation and regional economic development.
“In my capacity as Deputy SADC Youth Leader in Empowerment, I have regarded the role as a responsibility to encourage meaningful participation by young people and to strengthen the link between youth leadership and practical economic opportunity,” she said.
A Call for Continued Engagement
As she hands over the baton, Ambassador Musavengana emphasised that the work of youth empowerment continues, particularly with South Africa’s assumption of the SADC Chairpersonship.
“The assumption of the SADC Chairpersonship by South Africa provides an opportunity to strengthen these linkages and to deepen cooperation among young people, women entrepreneurs, private-sector institutions, and regional stakeholders,” she said.
A Legacy of Empowerment
Ambassador Musavengana‘s tenure has been marked by a consistent focus on ensuring that youth participation is connected to entrepreneurship, markets, investment, skills, and policy.
Her experience during the reporting period, she said, had reinforced the importance of ensuring that youth participation is connected to practical economic opportunity.
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