Online Reporter
Karen Kazembe
ZIMBABWE’S most valuable resource is not buried in its soil, it is walking on its streets.
With over 60 percent of the population under the age of 25, the nation’s future is inextricably linked to the well-being and productivity of its youths.
What urges us to get a seat is how the demographic “dividend” is currently at a crossroads, it’s facing hurdles that threaten to turn potential into stagnation
What am l saying?
1) Despite high literacy rates, many graduates find themselves over qualified and underemployed.
The transition from the classroom to the formal economy remains a narrow bridge which only allows cross-bored migrations to cross through it.
2) A lack of recreational facilities and hope has fuelled a rise in substance abuse.
This is not only affecting individual health but it’s eroding the social fabric of our local communities.
3)While the world moves towards a digital first economy, high data costs and limited access to start-up capital prevents young entrepreneurs from scaling their ideas.
I think it’s high time youths get a seat at the table!
Why?
So they can be able to propose the way forward.
There is need to bridge the gap between academic theory and industrial needs.
The youths should be provided with not just credit but mentorship and financial management training.
This will allow small businesses to survive beyond their first year.
Combating drugs requires more than policing, it requires alternatives.
Revitalising community centres and sports clubs provides a sense of belonging and a healthy outlet for energy, not only in sports, but platforms that also allow the youths to give in their full potential.
By so doing, l assure you by 2030 we shall have a strong and prosperous economy.
The youths of Zimbabwe are resilient, creative and eager to contribute.
By shifting the national focus from viewing youths as a “vulnerable group” to viewing them as strategic partners in development, Zimbabwe can be build an inclusive economy that leaves no one and no place behind.
The time to invest in their agency is not tomorrow, but today.
Karen Kazembe is a Form 3 student at Santa Heights College in Domboshava
