In June 2024, the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training recruited 1,077 trainees—825 at Dadaya and 252 at Vumba.
All have since graduated, and the current cohort of 1,879 is expected to complete its training and graduate this year after finishing community attachments.
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Solomon Mhlanga, highlighted the programme’s inclusivity. “The programme is accessible to all Zimbabwean youths aged 18 to 35, including persons with disabilities,” he said. “It also strives for gender balance and fair regional representation in line with Sections 18 and 20 of the Constitution. ”
He outlined government expectations for graduates: “As the Government, our expectations from Youth Service in Zimbabwe graduates include positive behavioural change.
Graduates are expected to shun risky sexual and social behaviours, such as drug and substance abuse and corruption.
They should contribute positively to national development, becoming important assets in the country’s growth.
We expect them to have service-oriented mindsets rooted in patriotism; be informed citizens aware of national economic, political and social policies; and actively participate in achieving the economic outcomes outlined in the National Development Strategy. ”
Mr Mhlanga also revealed plans to expand the programme nationwide. “We aim to establish a training centre in every province, with a minimum intake of 1,000 trainees per province,” he said. “This would result in 10,000 trainees across all provinces per intake.
With two intakes per annum, our annual target would be 20,000 trainees. ”
The YSZ course structure combines institutionalised training with community attachments.
Institutionalised training covers national orientation, civic education, youth participation in development, personal and community health practices, disaster management principles, physical education and drills, sports, arts and culture, and gender issues.
The programme also emphasises anti-corruption principles, including the causes and effects of corruption and the role of young people in preventing it.
Specialised modules include entrepreneurship and livelihood skills training, which cover the basics of entrepreneurship, agricultural practices, and information and communication technology (ICT), including computer literacy, internet usage, and social media management.
It is worth noting that similar youth programmes in the past, often referred to as “Green Bombers,” were accused of intimidating opposition supporters during the 2000, 2002, and 2005 election periods, raising concerns about the potential political use of the current initiative. 🔗 Read Full Article
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