Tinotenda Hove – President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on Zimbabwe’s young people to reject dishonesty, corruption, and the lure of “quick money” — even as his administration continues to face criticism over rampant graft and economic mismanagement.

Speaking at the Zanu PF Youth League National Executive meeting in Harare on Thursday, Mnangagwa urged youths to abandon what he called the “dependency syndrome” and instead become “creators, not mere consumers; builders, not beggars.”

“Shun quick money… be disciplined,” he told the gathering, warning against the temptation to make “easy money” and the dangers of a quick-fix mentality.

Critics, however, have pointed out that such calls ring hollow in a country where corruption scandals involving political elites have become commonplace, and where economic opportunities for ordinary citizens — especially the youth — remain scarce.

While the President’s message focused on self-reliance, many young Zimbabweans argue that without tackling entrenched corruption at the highest levels, appeals for discipline will remain little more than political rhetoric.