He said this at the Junior Chamber International 10 outstanding young persons in Zimbabwe awards held in Harare recently.
"Who will make a difference in our country, if we don't? Who will develop our country, if we don't? Who will become rich in our country, if we don't? As young people, let's be involved in shaping the destiny of our country and I want to commend you for working hard," said Minister Kasukuwere.
He added that it is important for youths to be innovative and to create ideas that help in developing the country's economy.
The 2011 honourees of the programme were Businessmen Mr Samuel Mudavanhu, Mr Fungai Makoni, Mr Munyaradzi Shadaya and Mr Kudakwashe Bhiza.
Others included women's rights activist Ms Janah Ncube, medical practitioner Dr Pride Chigwedere, cultural entrepreneur Mr Innocent Dube, lawyer Mr Errol Muzawazi, pastor Evan Mawarire and musician Ms Prudence Mabhena.
The national competition is aimed at identifying outstanding young people from various spheres of society, including business and entrepreneurial development, personal accomplishment, cultural achievement and medical innovation.
JCI Zimbabwe president Mr Patson Mahatchi said this award ceremony was aimed at honouring young people who made an impact in their societies through active participation. "In JCI we measure success through service to humanity. Given the accomplishments of the young people we identified in this programme, we found it necessary to mobilise resources and our partners to host a befitting ceremony.
"These are the young people who made an impact through active participation to better other people's lives," said Mr Mahatchi.
The national JCI TOYP honourees will move to compete for the international title and up to 10 international honourees will be chosen from all entries worldwide and will be invited to travel to the JCI World Congress in Brussels, Belgium in November.
Mr Mahatchi expressed confidence that the nominees from Zimbabwe have a great chance of winning at the international level and described them as representing the "heights of progress in numerous human endeavours". JCI public relations director Mr Lloyd Ngwenya said that Zimbabwe has in the past produced winners at international level
These include Charlene Hewatt (founder and director of Environment Africa), who received an Environmental and Moral Leadership award in 1995, Strive Masiyiwa (founder and chairman of Econet) who received as Entrepreneurial Accomplishment Award in 1999.
In 2005 Advocate Sabelo Sibanda (founder of the African Awareness) received the Cultural Achievement Award and in 2007 Betty Hazviperi Makoni (founder and director of the Girl Child Network) was given an award for her humanitarian and voluntary leadership.
JCI Zimbabwe is part of the world community young active ages between 18-40 and the members believe that in order to create positive change, they must take collective action to improve themselves and the world around them.
The organisation's members are involved in community development projects, business interests, individual development programs and international connections to demonstrate social responsibility and improve themselves through participation in leadership and action.
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