admin
Ransom Madzamba-Correspondent
On November 1, Zimbabwe joined the rest of the African continent in commemorating the 2021 Africa Youth Day.
The day was set aside to annually promote the increased recognition of youth as key agents for social change, economic growth and sustainable development in all areas of African society.
It was also set aside as a way to increase awareness of, commitment to and investment in youth.
Well, some people might want to know the origins of this very important day in Africa.
On September 12 2006, the executive council of the African Union, at the adoption of the African Youth Charter, proclaimed and instituted November 1 as Africa Youth Day.
It is also meant to increase and strengthen youth participation and partnerships as well as inter-cultural exchanges and understanding among the youth.
Zimbabwe signed and ratified the African Youth Charter in 2009 and since then significant progress has been made in domesticating it.
Young people are at the very heart of Africa’s development agenda.
With over 75 percent of Africa’s 1,2 billion inhabitants being under the age of 35, and 453 million Africans aged 15-35 years, it goes without saying that the development outcomes of Africa’s young people have a significant and lasting effect on the continent’s trajectory.
The African Union Commission, along with the rest of the world, recognises this centrality of youth to achieving the aspirations of Agenda 2063.
Aspiration six in particular, envisions a continent with people-driven development, relying on its youth.
In 2019, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission launched the 1 million by 2021 Initiative.
The initiative seeks to create direct opportunities for one million young Africans in the areas of education, employment, entrepreneurship and engagement (4Es).
At the very core of the initiative are the principles of Pan-Africanism, strategic partnerships and Africa-centric innovation and solutions, co-created and driven by Africa’s youth, towards creating sustainable structures.
While the Covid-19 outbreak has changed and challenged economies, resilient young people in Zimbabwe continue to find windows of opportunities which, with Government support, can improve their economic participation post the pandemic and towards achievement of the country’s vision 2030 – which is to become an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
November 1 has been set aside as the Africa Youth Day, however, the majority of African countries agreed to set aside the entire month as the Africa Youth Month.
Zimbabwe is part of these celebrations and indeed November is the month for our beloved youth.
The theme for the Africa Youth month is “Defining the future today: Youth led solutions for building the Africa we want”
The 2021 celebrations will focus on activities that encourage, engage and commit youth to national development under the theme above.
The celebrations will also be platforms to promote youth mainstreaming in all sectors of the economy that include agriculture, mining, sport, arts, tourism among others.
They shall also be platforms to fight drug abuse among the youth.
So, all in all the objectives of the celebrations are to highlight and celebrate youth excellence, provide a platform for State and non-state actors to publicize facilities, initiatives and programmes for youth in their various sectors.
The celebrations also seek to encourage and increase youth participation in national development.
Key participants in these celebrations include Government MDAs, Youth Representatives and Youth Serving Organisations and Development Partners.
The celebrations will be conducted virtually and, in some instances, physically obeying the Covid-19 rules and regulations.
Zimbabwe, let us all come on board and celebrate with our youth.
The future belongs to the youth and this is the time to mould them for the betterment of their lives and that of the country at large.
Let us celebrate with our youth through the hashtag #Youth Care, Youth Can.
◆ Ranson Madzamba is the deputy director Communications and Advocacy for the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.
Online Reporter