adminparliamentarians will be trained at workshops expected to run in August in Harare and Bulawayo. The junior MPs are expected to share knowledge gained with other children in their constituencies.
Speaking at the launch, the council’s programmes manager Mr Ephraim Masenga said it was critical for the youth to participate actively and understand the country’s budgetary process.
“We are capacitating junior parliamentarians to become knowledgeable about the national budgeting process,” Mr Masenga said.
“We want to empower the youth so that they understand how the budget works. After receiving training, they will be able to unpack all components to do with the budget and also have an input on it.”
He said children will in future be afforded an audience with treasury to present their position on the national budget.
Barclays Bank acting head of cooperate affairs Mrs Emily Nemapare said youth development with a focus on skills transfer in such areas as financial literacy, entrepreneurship skills and life skills was critical.
Child President Mr Ntandoyenkosi Moyo from Milton High School in Bulawayo said youth’s involvement in the national-budget-making process called for children to be responsible and disciplined.
“Being a part of this programme means we have to be responsible. We are being acknowledged as a major part of this country and we must be responsible. We must play our part in this beautiful nation,” he said.
He said during his tenure he will strive to promote efforts aimed at enhancing the country’s educational sector.
The ZYC programme is being supported by UNICEF, Barclays Bank, Save the Children and National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations.
Online Reporter