Staff Reporter
President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has placed a strong emphasis on Government’s will to continuously develop youth programmes.
Speaking during the official opening ceremony of the 20th International Inter-Ministerial Conference on South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Population and Development in Victoria Falls, President Mnangagwa reiterated that Government continued to ensure that youths would continuously be appointed into parliamentary and key Cabinet positions. This is in recognition of the fact that, Zimbabwe is a youthful nation, with over 67.7% of the population below the age of 35 years old.
“Zimbabwe is a youthful nation where 67.7% of the population is below the age of 35. This is in recognition of the fact that Zimbabwe is a youthful nation, with over 67.7% of the population below the age of 35 years. Hence, my Government is ensuring that the youth play a pivotal role in the national development agenda,” said President Mnangagwa.
He further ensured that through Government initiatives, the youth would continue to enjoy parliamentary and notable key Cabinet institutions.
“To date, youth enjoy a parliamentary quota with a notable number having been appointed into Cabinet and within other strategic national institutions,” said the President.
These remarks come as Government has also encompassed the youth development into the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), which is the country's blueprint for economic and social development for the period 2021 to 2025. The NDS1 identifies youth as one of the key drivers of development, and sets out a number of specific targets for youth development, including; increasing youth employment by 50%, increasing youth entrepreneurship by 25% and increasing youth participation in decision-making at all levels
Meanwhile, Government is also working to create a more enabling environment for youth development. This includes initiatives such as the Youth Policy of Zimbabwe, which provides a framework for the government and other stakeholders to support youth development.
In return, youth development expect, Fadzayi Rwizi has lauded Government's stance on youth development and highlighted that this move would progressively ensure that decisions made would be wholesomely encompassing the needs of the youth.
