Joseph Madzimure
Zimpapers Politics Hub
At least 6 000 cadets were recruited and deployed to Dadaya, Vumba and Guyu training centres against an annual target of 10 000 during the period between the 22nd Zanu PF National People’s Conference held in Mutare in 2025 and this year’s conference held in Chinhoyi.
According to the Zanu PF Central Committee report, the party’s Secretary for Youth Affairs, Cde Tino Machakaire, said the Zimbabwe Youth Service remained a flagship programme for equipping young people with practical skills, national identity, discipline, employability, life skills and a sense of national responsibility.
“The department coordinated the recruitment of 6 000 cadets deployed to Dadaya, Vumba and Guyu training centres against an annual target of 10 000,” said Cde Machakaire.
He added that capacity-building initiatives were underway at Mashayamombe, Rushinga and Dzimwe Vocational Training Centres.
He stated that efforts to expand youth service and vocational training infrastructure are underway, with two major centres under construction: the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Youth Service and Vocational Training Centre at Igava, Marondera, and the Joshua Nqabuko Nyongolo Nkomo Youth Service and Vocational Training Centre in Matabeleland.
Cde Machakaire indicated that 60 Vocational Skills Training Centres were undergoing rehabilitation.
He said the Youth League worked with EmpowerBank to establish and strengthen production units at Youth Service and Vocational Training Centres, enabling trainees to apply their skills in practical enterprise settings.
“The Department engaged the Public Service Commission, parastatal boards and captains of industry to create employment, internship and work-based learning pathways for young people,” he said.
“A key outcome was the directive to prioritise qualified Youth Service graduates for employment in the Public Service.”
He said the Department had worked with the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training to compile a database of Youth Service graduates, organised by their qualifications and competencies.
Qualified graduates, he said, are being referred for interviews and given priority consideration for funded Public Service posts.
On sport, talent development and youth empowerment, Cde Machakaire stated that the Department promoted sport as an instrument for youth development, talent identification, employment and economic empowerment.
“It supported the launch of the US$25 million Munhumutapa Cup Tournament, designed to develop football talent from grassroots level to international competition over five years,” he said.
The Department, he noted, also directed the Ministry of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture to prioritise maintenance, rehabilitation and upgrading of sporting facilities to international standards.
