Youths are engines for development

24 Mar, 2019 - 00:03 0 Views

The Sunday Mail

Lewis Matutu

They have the capacity to transform the nation into prosperity, but their potential has for many years remained untapped.

The country now finds itself in a position where it needs to catapult its development drive and youth participation in various key economic sectors can never be overemphasised. Youth must have the capabilities, opportunities and supportive environment necessary to participate effectively and meaningfully to the maximum extent of their competences.

It is for this reason that the Zanu-PF Youth league is committed to put into place measures to ensure that a crop of industrious, viable, self-sufficient youths are cultivated for the prosperity of the nation.

In line with the mantra “Zimbabwe is open for business” the youth league intends to ensure that the young people are key drivers of the country’s economic rehabilitation. The Zanu-PF Youth League seeks to answer the following questions; how can we play a stronger role in creating real prosperity for Zimbabwe?

How can we create an environment where all young people of Zimbabwe become a symbol of wealth and prosperity? The Zanu-PF Youth League’s vision is to promote patriotism, discipline and mobilisation among young people and engage them in the challenges of development in Zimbabwe.

When I was appointed a permanent employee of Zanu-PF as the Head of Youth Affairs, my mission was to re-brand the Youth League to be modern, progressive, innovative, idea centred, transparent and authentic. To that effect, various progressive activities are to be put in place for the realisation of the vision.

2019 agenda

In line with the mandate set out in the Zanu-PF Election Manifesto to create an environment that will help the youth to fully participate in the country’s development, the youth league seeks to fulfil this mandate through the following ways:

— Youth representation in ministries through setting up youth desks.

— Conducting a provincial economics research: The Zimbabwean Youth Economic Transformation Outlook, A path to a middle-income economy Vision 2030.

—  Provision of basic education to all, including skills training and capacity building

— Establishment of Youth Business Incubation Hubs through Shanda Hub, which will promote youth entrepreneurship

— Promote business mentorship programmes which seek to enhance the sustainability of enterprises run by youths. This will be done through strategic co-ordination between relevant Principal Officers, Shanda Hub and the local and international business community.

— Facilitate youth ownership and control of productive resources, including land and mineral claims.

With adequate support, access to education, jobs and opportunities to have their voices heard and skills harnessed and nurtured, the youth can easily become a resource for the realisation of Vision 2030.

Youth are a tremendous asset, they have the capability to fruitfully and relentlessly contribute significantly to their communities through proposing innovative solutions for sustainable socio-economic development.

The country cannot achieve its mission to attain an upper middle income economy status by Vision 2030 without partnering young people and ensuring they are not only heard but understood, not only engaged but empowered and not only supported but to lead in global efforts and processes.

 Key objectives 2019 -2023

The Zanu Youth League is committed to strengthening its capacity to meet new demands and deliver more effectively with and for the young people of Zimbabwe.

In order to achieve this, the youth league will make efforts to strengthen international, regional and national commitments to prioritise, invest in, engage and empower the youth.

The following are the key objectives set out for 2019-2023

— Creating youth engagement platforms, putting in place mechanisms strategically within relevant youth organisations.

— Providing a channel for input and feedback from young people on youth related matters. This should be done in ways that reflect the diversity of our youth.

— Dialogue opportunities, establishment of regular on and offline engagements between the youth and the youth league as well as senior members of the party and Government as and when necessary.

— Strengthening internships programmes with relevant institutions that allow engagement with relevant decision making organisations and identify innovative solutions.

— Strengthening knowledge management systems, developing easy access to all youth related knowledge and programmes across the country.

— Shanda Hub, this is to become a credible source of expertise on youth development and engagement and socio-economic participation.

— Accelerate resource mobilisation efforts and facilitate partnerships to advance the implementation of effective youth strategies.

— Make public all information on the implementation of youth strategies for the purposes of transparency.

The Youth League is committed to ensuring that young people are included and actively participate in the success of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme the (TSP). For instance, the TSP seeks to harness the digital economy and digital entrepreneurship has the potential of creating jobs for the youth. The Youth League intends to ensure that effective efforts and strategies are put in place for the realisation of these. Mechanisms such as Shanda Hub will be key drivers of such an initiative.

In line with energies by his Excellency and First Secretary of Zanu-PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the empowerment of provinces through devolution, the Youth League will put in place youth development programmes that are fair and balanced to address relevant issues in line with differing community needs. Our economic solutions will never be found in the streets as is a misconception of some people. Such behaviour will only result in chaos and serious setbacks.

As young people, we must understand that jobs are not created through violence and vandalism of property, we need to support President Mnangagwa’s efforts and commitment towards a better Zimbabwe for all. Our liberators, who include the likes of Dr Joshua Nkomo, Josiah Tongogara, Herbert Chitepo, Amai Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri fought against the imperialists, it is now our duty to fight for economic justice. Let’s get working towards building a better Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe we want, the Zimbabwe we deserve.

 

Cde Lewis Matutu is Zanu-PF Youth Affairs deputy secretary. He was responding to questions from The Sunday Mail reporter Norman Muchemwa.

 

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