A lumpsum $670,000 poured out by government for unemployed graduates is set to disappear, it has emerged.
Sources say there is no framework set up by government for the funds to be accounted for. This money was set out clearly to assist graduates but government has no way of controlling it’s disbursement, a source in the Ministry of Finance said.
As at Monday it was revealed Teritary Education Minister Oppah Muchinguri does not yet have an available policy and procedure for the disbursement of the funds. This became clear when upon requesting a copy of the document ministry officials confessed that it dfoes not exist.  “There is no such a document, why don’t you call on Wednesday morning,” a woman who identified herself as the Minister’s Secretary said.
Government last week announced in the State Media it has set aside $670 000 from Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (ZIMDEF) to fund projects for unemployed graduates, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Speaking in Harare last Thursday at an event organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union, (ZICOSU), Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Science and Technology Development, Minister Oppah Muchinguri said through a programme called Graduate Entrepreneurship and Employment Promotion Programme (GEEPP), the money would be used to fund projects for the unemployed graduates, teaching them to be self-reliant and innovative.
Minister Muchinguri said the programme will cascade to all provinces, and in order to mobilise additional resources, she will create linkages with external partners by exploiting bilateral and multilateral agreements already in place.
“President Mugabe noted that the number of unemployed graduates on our streets was increasing. My ministry responded by deliberately resuscitating the Graduate Entrepreneurship and Employment Promotion Programme,” Muchinguri  said.