Zimbabwean Pan-African youth diplomat, Kudzai Gasho, has called for African governments to place young people at the centre of economic transformation, warning that failure to invest in the continent’s human capital could slow development.
Speaking at the ongoing African Youth Leadership Diplomatic Conference 2026 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Gasho challenged African leaders to move beyond policy rhetoric and implement practical strategies that empower young people through education, innovation and leadership opportunities.
Gasho told delegates that Africa’s growing youth population represents the continent’s greatest opportunity for economic growth if properly developed.
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“Africa’s greatest asset is not just its natural resources but its people, particularly its young people,” he said. “If we invest in developing Africa’s human capital through education, skills development and innovation, we can unlock inclusive economic growth that benefits the entire continent.”
He added that youth participation in governance and diplomacy is essential in shaping policies that respond to the realities facing the younger generation.
“Young people must not only be beneficiaries of development but active participants in shaping Africa’s future,” Gasho said. “We need policies that empower youth to become leaders, entrepreneurs and innovators who can drive economic transformation.”
The conference, hosted in the Ethiopian capital which is also home to the headquarters of the African Union, has brought together youth leaders, diplomats and policymakers from across Africa to discuss leadership, diplomacy and development.
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