Exploring the essentiality of National Youth Service

Ranson Madzamba Correspondent

In its quest to develop and modernise the country, the Second Republic has brought a number of changes if not development, in many sectors of the economy. The heritage-based Education 5.0 model introduced by Professor Amon Murwira and his team from the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, is indeed the best way to address issues of unemployment and industrialisation.

The Education 5.0 model seeks to impact essential knowledge and skills to learning students. The knowledge and skills are thus crucial ingredients for the production of quality goods and services needed for the industrialisation and modernisation process of our great nation.

The model is moving away from the old traditional way of learning. It is anchored on five missions namely: Innovation, Teaching, Community Outreach and Industrialisation as well as Research. It speaks to the utilisation of local resources for socio-economic transformation.

The model emphasises on the essentiality of making use of the available local resources for the economic good of our country. It seeks to produce more of employers than employees. Gone are the days when students, after finishing their studies, would start moving from one company to the other in search of employment opportunities. The incubation hubs established at all tertiary institutions are solely there to produce individuals who would be ready to conquer in the industrialisation process of our nation.

The Education 5.0 model is indeed a good great initiative that has to be embraced by everybody and without much questioning.

The same must apply as well on the re-introduction of the National Youth Service Programme by the Second Republic.

It has to be taken into account that the National Youth Service Programme is not exceptional to Zimbabwe, but many countries introduced it before and even after us.

Countries that include Germany, USA, China Ghana, Tanzania, Namibia, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malaysia, Argentina and Cuba run National Youth Service programmes.

Common observations 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 Nation Youth Service seeks to bond people from different parts of their countries.

History has it that, at independence in 1980, the Government of Zimbabwe started a youth development programme that targeted youths from the armed struggle.  These youths were assisted to acquire skills to start their own income-generating projects. They were later organised into youth brigades. The idea was to ensure meaningful youth involvement in the social and economic development of the country within the context that was specific to that period.

In September 2001, the National Youth Service Programme was officially launched in Mt Darwin. Since its inception, more than 83 000 youths were trained and many of them were accepted for employment in the public and private sectors on the strength of their discipline and commitment to national goals and values.

After some serious considerations and deliberations, the Second Republic has decided to re-introduce and re-brand, The National Youth Service programme. A fully fledged department of National Youth Service has been created in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training.

The National Youth Service programme seeks to:

1. a) Develop and enhance the spirit of patriotism by promoting volunteerism, civic responsibility, and loyalty to the nation through national orientation training.
2. b) Provide career guidance and impart life and entrepreneurial skills for resilience and employment creation.
3. c) Encourage peace and positive social integration among youth of different ethnicities, cultures, religions and political persuasions.
4. d) Promote values of moral uprightness, self-discipline, productivity, integrity, incorruptibility and a sense of self-confidence, self-esteem and self-reliance.
5. e) Promote cultural pride and identity among the youth.
6. f) Encourage youth participation in leadership and decision-making processes.
7. g) Channel youth energy, zeal and skills into voluntary productive community development activities.
8. h) To promote healthy lifestyles among youth.

The National Youth Service Programme is thus 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. The training will, in one way or the other, anchor on the country’s economic blueprints as well as involving discussions on how the young people can contribute to economic well-being of our beautiful country Zimbabwe.

Voluntary participation in development projects and disaster response activities by the trained youth will result in fiscal savings and improved national capacity to manage disasters. The programme will instil such elements like patriotism, discipline, hard work, loyalty, tolerance as well as attributes that include focus, patience, determination, thoroughness, resilience, helpfulness, integrity, incorruptibility, among others.

So, all in all some expected outcomes of the National Youth Training Service 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 National Youth Service is indeed a pillar that will help in the accomplishment of the country’s vision of having an upper middle-income society by the year 2030 (Vision 2030).

It has been one of the biggest priorities of Government to empower the young people of this country. All has and is still been done for the advantage of the youth themselves and that of the nation at large.

Vision 2030 Tinosvika/Siyafika!

Ranson Madzamba is a Communication and Advocacy Deputy Director for the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training. He 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 Hons Degree in Media and Society Studies.