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Sibongile Maruta Herald Reporter
Government, together with the Canadian Embassy, is supporting youth-focussed projects designed to strengthen the capacity of youths to develop innovative and resilient strategies to deal with everyday challenges.
These projects are being conducted by Research Advocacy Unit (RAU), a non-governmental organisation, in partnership with the International Development Research Centre (IDRC).
Speaking at the official opening of the Research Advocacy Unit’s peace-building training manual workshop this week, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Women and Youth Affairs Ms Sibusisiwe Zembe said the peace-building programme was one of the sub-components of local youths.
The thrust of the programme, she said, was to build the capacity of young people to be responsive citizens who were peace builders and leaders among Zimbabweans.
“Firstly, we do have economic empowerment programmes that keep youth away from violent conduct,” said Ms Zembe.
“The gender and community development aspect of my ministry sees to it that there is no gender-based violence in households and therefore conscientises communities and young couples about the need to live harmoniously as families and communities.
“The programme aims to achieve development outcomes such as delivery, tolerance, peaceful co-existence and unity as part of peace building by bringing together groups across conflict divides to work together to fulfil the need for peace and inclusion.”
The programme, said Ms Zembe, partnered with United Nations Development Programme to conduct conflict prevention, management, resolution and transformation training to youth leaders.
Canadian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Rene Cremonese said his government was pleased to see institutions using evidence-based analysis towards tackling challenges facing the youth in Africa, especially the political economy of violence.
“The involvement of Government is crucial for successful uptake of policy recommendations,” he said.
“More importantly, as the government of Canada, we are pleased when institutions use evidence-based analysis towards tackling the challenges facing the youth in Africa, especially the political economy of violence.”
Mr Cremonese reiterated the high premium placed by the government of Canada on research and evidence-based policy options in national and continental development processes.
“We are firmly behind this IDRC initiative, and have no doubt that initiatives such as these are crucial to the attainment of visions such as the UN Agenda 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063,” he said.
Online Reporter