The Sunday Mail
Takudzwa Chihambakwe
Zimbabwe has numerous avenues through which the youth can participate in the policy and decision making process, but it is unfortunate the young are unaware of such opportunities.
This emerged recently in Marondera at a workshop organised by the Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) in partnership with UNFPA.
The event, hosted under the Safeguard Young People (SYP) Programme, sought to raise youth awareness on how to participate in democratic processes, including petitioning Parliament.
Youths in Zimbabwe have over the past years sought policy shift to gain access to opportunities in key sectors of the country in order to contribute towards national development.
The young have been pushing an implementation of the National Youth Policy document which advocates for Government to approve the setting aside of a 25 percent youth quota in all economic sectors and decision making processes.
Addressing participants at the workshop, Parliament of Zimbabwe principal committee clerk Mr Prince Daniel said, “The challenge with many young people is that they do not come to talk to the relevant people when they have matters they want addressed.
“At Parliament, we are willing to engage with the youths and anybody in general.
“We have so many departments that can address issues people might have.
“For instance on issues of poor performing parliamentarians in their constituencies or policies you feel are lacking in some areas, there are ways to petition and we can guide you so that your concerns can be heard.”
Mr Daniel also revealed that there were a number of youth outreach programmes that Parliament is .
Junior Parliamentarian for Warren Park constituency, Isaiah Kudakwashe Marikopo said the workshop was an eye opener.
“As a junior parliamentarian, I have learnt a lot from this workshop, particularly on issues of how policies and laws are developed, as well as how I can participate in their formulation.
“I am now going to begin to engage with Parliament through its various structures so that I get my voice heard,” said Marikopo.
