Chronicle Editor
Ranson Madzamba
The recent 2022 Zimstats Census indicates that the youths constitute close to five million of the country’s 15,2 million population. It is estimated that about 240 000 young people who leave the secondary education system annually, do not proceed to acquire a higher or tertiary qualification that prepares them for the job market.
These young people, without education, skills and employment, estimated to be about 2,2 million, who join the economic jungle without viable prospects of a decent job or opportunity for enterprise are classified as marginalised and vulnerable. They are susceptible to committing crime, abusing drugs and substances, indulging in unsafe health styles including exposure to HIV/Aids and STIs, child marriages, early and unintended pregnancies.
Youth Empowerment Forums
It is also in light of the above that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training realised the need to host, Youth Empowerment Forums in each and every province of the country.
In 2024,Youth Empowerment Forums were held in Mashonaland East Province at Nhakiwa Vocational Training Centre, Mushagashe Vocational Training Centre in Masvingo Province and at Magamba Vocational Training Centre in Manicaland.
The major focus of hosting the Empowerment forums at Vocational Training Centres is mainly to promote vocational skills.
The key objectives of Youth Empowerment Forums are to:
1. Identify and unlock socio-economic opportunities for the youth by engaging policy makers in key sectors of the economy.
2. Increase awareness, commitment and investment in youth development initiatives, programs and projects.
Expected Outcomes of Youth Empowerment Forums
Empowered youths as well as improved youth socio-economic participation.
Youth Service in Zimbabwe
The nation witnessed the return of the re-branded National Youth Service programme, now the Youth Service in Zimbabwe, in 2024.More than one thousand youths graduated at Dadaya and Vumba Youth Service in Zimbabwe Training Centres.
The Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme is an important youth development programme crucial in nurturing young people into responsible and resilient citizens with a clear sense of national identity and respect for national values.
Every Zimbabwean youth is free to enrol at any Youth Service in Zimbabwe institution despite his or her political affiliation, religion or social background. The Programme is for every youth between the ages 18-35.
The Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme is not exceptional to Zimbabwe. Many countries have introduced it and these include, China, Ghana, Tanzania, Namibia, Germany, USA, Tanzania, Malaysia, Argentina, Cuba Rwanda and Kenya.
Common observation from studies made with regards to all these countries’ National Youth Service Programmes is that they all emphasise nurturing of youths to become responsible and patriotic citizens.
They also emphasise youth volunteerism in areas such as disaster management, agriculture, construction and rehabilitation of public infrastructure.
The Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme seeks to provide career guidance and impart life and entrepreneurial skills for resilience and employment creation. In this new media ecosphere where the world is turning into a global village, with people sharing everything including culture, the programme promotes cultural pride and identity among the Zimbabwean youths.
It enhances the spirit of patriotism by promoting volunteerism, civic responsibility and loyalty to the nation through national orientation training. It also encourages youth participation in leadership and decision-making processes.
Unity is a crucial ingredient for development. The Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme encourages peace and positive social integration among youths of different ethnicities, cultures, religions and political persuasions.
The programme promotes values of moral uprightness, self-discipline, productivity, integrity, incorruptibility and a sense of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance.
As we are currently fighting drug and substance abuse among the youths, the Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme was introduced at the right time. It channels youth energy, zeal and skills into voluntary productive community development.
Some expected outcomes of the Youth Service in Zimbabwe Programme include
Youth employment and employability
Reduction in juvenile delinquency
Fiscal savings and social services
Improved community infrastructure
National identity, unity and social cohesion
The fight against Drug and Substance Abuse among the youths
Drug and substance abuse among young people is a menace that has to be resolved as a matter of urgency. Research shows that it is prevalent in urban areas and above 57%, among young people.
Young people are an important and intricate part of the national economic eco-system. They constitute the majority of our population as a country. It is incumbent upon young people to be the major contributors to the achievement of an upper middle-income society by the year 2030. However, with the threat of drug and substance abuse, there is an ever-growing fear of failing to harness the youth economic dividend for this feat.
Behaviours such as violence, vandalism, engaging in unprotected sex, damage to family and social relationships, personal injury and several medical problems are to a large extent associated with drug and substance abuse.
Family networks, peer influence and other social networks are reportedly key propagators of drug and substance abuse.
In 2024, the ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training reached out to a number of youths, exploring the dangers of drug and substance abuse. This was done at various platforms of the Ministry that include graduation ceremonies, National Youth Day celebration and Youth Empowerment Forums.
The ministry also embarked in nationwide radio shows with Radio Zimbabwe and National FM Radio, castigating drug and substance abuse among the youths as well as encouraging young people to embrace various youth empowerment and development programmes being channelled out by the Government.
It is now exciting that the Zimbabwe Youth Council Board is now in place and is already overwhelmed with youth empowerment and development work. Fighting drug and substance abuse among the youths is one of the key areas the board committed itself to work on.
Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) Transformation
In 2024, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training embarked on a massive transformation of all Vocational Training Centres in the country.
Vocational Training generally refers to instructional programmes or courses that focus on the skills required for a particular job function or trade.
In Zimbabwe, training at VTCs can be accomplished through many channels and at varying points in someone’s career. This can be post-secondary vocational school, apprenticeship programs, on the job training-training for rural economic empowerment as well as distance learning programs.
Who can enrol at a VTC
To enrol at a VTC, one should just be able to read and write. Anyone with a passion and interest for a certain course is actually given the opportunity to enrol as well. In short, enrolling at a VTC is actually open to everyone who is willing to acquire life skills training. However, some courses offered at some VTCs are affiliated to the Hexco Examinations Board, hence they require one to have five O-Levels inclusive of Mathematics, English and Science.
The VTCs are also open even to those coming from higher institutions of learning like Universities and Polytechnics. In this new world we live in, life skills training is indeed the way to go.
Those training under the Training for Enterprise programme are awarded National Foundation Certificates, Certificate of Competency and National Certificates depending on the duration of training. Trade tests are also done for those that wish to be trade tested from class four to one.
Intakes at VTCs vary from centre-to-centre but there are three main intakes namely: January for certificate programmes, May for certificate and diploma in agriculture specialising in tobacco production and lastly but not least, September for diploma programmes.
Courses on offer on these VTCs include, Metal Fabrication, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Brick and Block Laying, Automobile Electrics and Electronics, Carpentry and Joinery, Clothing and Textile, Cosmetology, Tourism and Hospitality, Business Studies, Agriculture and Electrical Engineering.
It has to be noted that training at VTCs is needs driven and lasts from six months for competency certificate level and up to three years for diploma level.
In offering their courses and programs, the VTCs are now venturing into productive partnerships with the private sectors. The partners include, the British American Tobacco Zimbabwe (BATZ), Plan International, Silveira House, Mimosa, Boltrec, to mention a few.
Vocational training centres in Zimbabwe are informed by the existing resource endowments within their locality in the selection of courses to offer. Every province in the country has a VTC.
The Media, Communication, Business Development Partnerships and 2024 awards
The Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training working with its stakeholders that include the media, youth organisations, Government Ministries, development partners and the Zimbabwe Republic Police managed to come up with a robust Communication Strategy for the Ministry. As a way to effectively reach out to each and every youth in the country, the Ministry has managed to come up with partnerships to work with various media houses that include the ZBC-TV and radio stations.
The Ministry also managed to come up with partnerships to work with various business development partners. A memorandum of understanding between the Ministry and Campaign For Female Education Zimbabwe (Camfed Zimbabwe) was signed. Well, all is done as way to empower the youths, taking them away from the drug and substance abuse scourge. A productive youth will definitely take us to an upper middle-income society by the year 2030.
It is now a public secret that the Ministry was one of the best performing ministries in 2024. It managed to scoop a gold medal as well as a bronze medal at the 2024 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair and the 2024 Zimbabwe Agricultural Show respectively. The awards are a clear testimony of great activities that are being carried out in as far as youth empowerment and development is concerned. #YouthEmpowermentForABetterZimbabwe
Ranson Madzamba is a Communication and Advocacy PhD student. He is a holder of a Master of Science Degree in Media and Society Studies. He is also a holder of a BSc in Media and Society Studies.
Bongani Ndlovu