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Farirai Machivenyika Herald Reporter
The Parliament Youth Caucus intends to sensitise young people of its programmes across the country’s 10 provinces in the lifespan of the current ninth Parliament.
The caucus was established as a voluntary organisation of parliamentarians interested in youth development.
The chairperson of the caucus and Seke-Chikomba National Assembly representative Cde Tatenda Mavetera said youth development should not be an issue in perpetuity.
“A look at our planned short-term activities will show that we intend to do sensitisation programmes in the country’s 10 provinces. It is something that can be done. We can do meetings with youth representatives while visiting constituencies. There is nothing difficult about that,” she said.
Cde Mavetera also said they had also planned to benchmark their activities with other parliaments on the continent with established youth caucuses.
“It will be sad to see the Youth Caucus 20 years after its formation still talking about youth being sidelined in national development issues.
“The caucus should be a springboard for rapid youth empowerment so that in the short period of five to 10 years, change should be seen. Youth empowerment should become a way of life and piecemeal concessions should have ceased. The youth should be driving the development agenda then,” she said.
There is the issue of the Youth Bill. We are hoping that we conclude it before the end of the current session.
Cde Mavetera also said there was need to expedite the enactment of an Act that compels every institution to make sure youth issues are addressed in their programmes and activities.
“We need something enforceable. When we don’t have a law, it becomes very difficult to compel anyone to take youth issues seriously,” Cde Mavetera said.
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