adminSharon Chigeza Mutare Correspondent
GOVERNMENT values national youth service training programmes’ role of moulding young people into disciplined, patriotic and productive members of their communities who contribute positively to the socio-economic development of the country, an official has said.
Addressing 255 youths drawn from the country’s 10 provinces, Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Cde Kazembe Kazembe who was represented by principal director in his ministry, Dr Benson Dube – last week said graduates from national youth service training had an appreciation of Zimbabwe’s liberation legacy.
This, he said, instilled in youths the values of patriotism, discipline, incorruptibility, integrity, respect and hard work.
“These graduates were also taught to value good corporate governance and business ethics that shun corruption and laziness and promote a culture of hard work, creativity, innovation, productivity, responsibility and accountability. I also believe they have emerged from training as people who can make informed decisions that positively impact on their own as well as national development,” he said.
Minister Kazembe said the enterprise awareness, which they acquired from their training, had given them an employer rather than an employee orientation and this was especially important given the high rate of unemployment in the country and the Government’s “Zimbabwe is open for business” policy, which has identified the ease of doing business as a priority.
He also said youths received entrepreneurship training in practical courses, which had prepared them for use under the new administration.
“These youths have received entrepreneurship training, which I believe has prepared them for the utilisation of economic opportunities that will arise in the new dispensation. Since Zimbabwe is now open for business, these young people should also be ready for business,” he said.
The 255 youths that graduated at the Vumba National Youth Service training first intake for the year 2018 were aggregated as 55 females and 170 males. These were taught practical courses in apiculture, poultry, fish farming, horticulture, fruit plantation and brick moulding.
Besides training youths within centres, the National Youth Service carries out the Youth Build Zimbabwe Programme through which youths volunteer to participate in the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure that benefits their communities.
“My ministry has also partnered with the District Development Fund and are working together as partners for life on several projects, which involve the rehabilitation of roads, dams and bridges. These programmes are being carried out throughout the country’s rural provinces,” he added.
Online Reporter