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Ruth Butaumocho-African Agenda
The first week of March 2020 saw the world preparing to shut down to curb the spread of Covid-19.
With consequential effects of Covid-19 threatening to be worse than the 1918 global influenza pandemic, the few weeks that were to follow were a hive of activity as countries frantically battled to find ways to insulate themselves against the pandemic.
By this time last year, the globe had literally ground to a halt, as countries went into various lockdowns.
More than a year later, the story of Covid-19 is more of the same.
The world is riveted to several narratives of Covid-19, some alarming and disturbing, while others are seemingly sober. The most worrying story is happening in India, where Covid-19 is spreading faster than anywhere in the world.
Other narratives paint a positive image of hope and reconstruction, where several countries are now pinning their hopes on the ongoing vaccinations to avert an anticipated third wave which could turn out to be more catastrophic, unless necessary measures are taken.
Within the same year, it is also painfully clear that the pandemic has uprooted lives of millions of youths across the world, particularly lives of those who were transiting into adulthood.
Young people intending to step into the world have found themselves with nothing to do after school, university, with other education facilities closed whilst learners were at various stages of their studies.
Prospects of jobs soon after graduating were destroyed, studies were conduct online or on hold, while pending enrolments at various educational institutions were immediately deferred.
Thousands of other youths lost their employment, since it was cheaper to lay them off, as companies battled to contain operational costs and remain operational.
Left with nothing and an unclear picture of the future, hordes of youths have since turned to drugs and other illicit engagements whilst hundreds of girls are now pregnant and have dropped out of school.
While the virus itself may not be a direct threat to children and youth, the social and economic impact of the pandemic is likely to throw millions of youths in a moral and economic abyss, in what could be termed a “lost generation”.
Already, the global statistics are not looking good, a development that calls for the establishment of various social safety nets and counselling services to offer social-psycho support to afflicted and affected youths.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund report published in November 2020, about 142 million more children were in monetary poor households in developing countries, according to projections as of November 2020.
The total number of children living in poor households globally could reach just over 725 million in the absence of any mitigating policies. Nearly two-thirds of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Presenting a report on the level of public service delivery related to sexual and gender-based violence during the Covid-19 pandemic in the National Assembly in March, Women’s Affairs Minister, Sithembiso Nyoni, revealed that at least 4 959 teenagers fell pregnant, while 1 774 child marriages were recorded between January and February in the country this year.
Zimbabwe, like any other country globally, finds itself at the mercy of consequential effects of Covid-19, a development that calls for immediate readdress to save a generation from sinking into an abyss of poverty and illiteracy.
There is need for post-Covid-19 recovery strategies to realign the youths with their goals, while ensuring that they remain focused on their initial goals.
The youths should be at the centre of the post-Covid-19 recovery strategies so that they are able to define their own trajectory by mapping out the way on how they want to regain lost time and opportunities.
Of immediate concern and a pillar to their strategies would be to avail funds that support their different identified initiatives, to ensure implementation and sustainability of the projects they would have set out to do.
The funding model should be innovative financial and loan instruments which move beyond the current predominant asset-based collateral requirements for access to finance, to ensure that most people will benefit.
In the absence of adequate resources from the Treasury, the Government can incentivise the private sector in a way of a reduced tax threshold to companies that can inject money into youth-oriented projects.
Already sectors like tourism, agribusiness, and information and communication technology are proving to be popular business hubs for the youth who have already shown zeal and enthusiasm to embark on various projects.
Outside income generating projects, a lot of psychosocial support is needed for struggling families currently dealing with youths who are now in drugs and teenage pregnancy.
Now more than ever, young people, especially those who have no one to fall back on, need psychological support, guidance and encouragement — from mental health professionals, caregivers, mentors and peers, so that they can adjust to the situation they find themselves in.
With graduate unemployment increasingly becoming a problem, companies can step in and show leadership and guidance by providing opportunities to new graduates through cadet programmes, trainee graduates and even offer internships, so that they can capacitate them.
We take comfort in knowing that despite the challenges the youths are going through, the situation is still redeemable.
Communities should work together with families and social workers to rehabilitate youths who are now on drugs and other illicit engagements.
Before the advent of Covid-19, the Government had set a framework to safeguard and promote the youths, particularly the girl child from disenfranchisement because of social challenges.
Of the nearly 5 000 girls who fell pregnant, they can still go back to school, after giving birth thanks to the progressive amendments to the Education Act enacted in August 2020 that now allows these girls to resume education once they have delivered.
The African continent and its member countries need to recognise the enormous potential of the youth, who have a crucial role to play in Africa’s post-Covid-19 recovery.
Online Reporter