Online Reporter
Leonard Ncube in Kadoma, [email protected]
LOCAL authorities have been challenged to mainstream and standardise programmes that address youth empowerment to help young people realise their potential and contribute more to national agenda.
Speaking at the 2026 junior councillors, patrons and focal persons strategic planning and capacity building workshop underway in Kadoma, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Cde Albert Mavunga, said the Government recognises the importance of prioritising youth needs and ensuring that they have access to services and opportunities that will enable them to thrive and reach their full potential.
The workshop, organised by the Youth Desk in the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, is being attended by focal persons and patrons from 85 of the 92 local authorities.
“You have convened not merely for a meeting but to sharpen the very instruments of our nation’s future.
Your presence here is a powerful testament to a shared belief that the path to achieving our local authorities’ blueprint, our National Development Strategy 2 and our collective Vision 2030 must be paved with energy, innovation and leadership of our youth,” said the Deputy Minister.
“In alignment with our national development blueprint Vision 2030, I call upon all local authorities to accord priority to junior council programmes.
“Collective efforts in this regard will be instrumental in driving our country towards prosperity and empowerment for all Zimbabweans,” said Mavunga.
The workshop started on Wednesday and ended Thursday under the theme: “Youth driven governance-benchmarking service delivery towards the attainment of Vision 2030.”
Youth make up a significant proportion of the country’s population and are the largest consumers of social services, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and investments in their welfare, education and development.
Social ills such as drug and substance abuse, teenage pregnancies and other abuses are some of the challenges that young people face.
Dep Minister Mavunga said Minimum Service Standards are being rolled out to ensure all programmes are well co-ordinated and of high impact.
“To address the diverse socio-economic needs of our young people, I am urging all local authorities to resuscitate and establish youth centres that provide youth friendly services,” he said.
“As the ministry continues to prioritise the empowerment of our junior councillors, I am pleased to note that the Ministry’s Youth Desk under the guidance of the Department of Local Authorities is actively engaging a nationwide outreach conducting induction programmes and capacity building initiatives to equip young people with skills, knowledge and confidence they need to thrive.”
Deputy Minister Mavunga further urged local authorities to implement junior council processes such as selection and induction in line with the ministry’s guidelines and the need to standardise operations of junior council.
“To optimise young people’s contribution in local communities, Government through local authorities has made commendable efforts to address junior councillors’ programmes such as inclusion of junior councillors’ budget component in council budgets established to empower their activities,” he added.
“The success of the junior council standardisation in local Government hinges on our collective efforts to share information, collaborate and implement sound guidelines and measures.”
When fully implemented, inclusive youth frameworks can help young people and communities realise their full potential and be globally competitive and prosperous, he said.
