Story by Wellington Makonese
A youth focused initiative dubbed the Youth Model Parliament has been launched at the New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden this Friday, with the aim of cultivating leadership skills among young Zimbabweans and preparing them for future roles in governance.
The initiative which aims to enhance young people’s involvement in the country’s socio-economic and political development was launched by the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Youth Caucus, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Youth Council and the Zimbabwe Institute
“This complements the efforts made by the Child Parliamentarians, in which case, it is like a graduation or a go-between, between the youth and the seniors who actually come to Parliament.
“We look at ourselves as young members of Parliament to say when we got into Parliament, we really did not have a proper idea and we were not confident enough to be able to take up political space. It does not target which party you come from. This is the collective message that we are also sending out to the young people out there,” Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Youth Caucus, Honourable Stanley Sakupwanya said.
Constrictive discourse among young leaders has been cited as key in developing the next generation of responsible politicians.
“The Youth Model Parliament must have the distinctive character of civility, the ability to be dispassionate in debating issues, the tenet to agree to disagree and disagree to agree amicably as well as arguing on matters of national interests.
“Furthermore, a pre-eminent characteristic of the Youth Model Parliament must lie in its capacity to coalesce young individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. In a societal context where political divergence often engenders division, this initiative represents a bold advancement towards promoting the unity of purpose and collaboration among young leaders. The heterogeneity within this forum constitutes, not merely incidental features, but a fundamental strength that should facilitate constructive dialogue and assist in developing collaborative frameworks focused on advancing the country’s collective socio-economic national interests by our young generation,” Speaker of Parliament, Advocate Jacob Mudenda said.
The government is actively working to expand youth empowerment initiatives.
“The role of youth in national development cannot be underestimated. The ministry is focusing its efforts in Vocational training, and we have banks for youth lessening on collateral,” the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire said.
The programme aligns with broader government policies focused on youth empowerment, particularly in entrepreneurship, education, and civic engagement.
This initiative is expected to serve as a launch-pad for future leaders, equipping them with the skills necessary to navigate complex governance structures, while advocating for national progress.
The Youth Model Parliament is a pioneering initiative that seeks to cultivate leadership skills among young Zimbabweans, preparing them for future roles in governance.
By fostering dialogue across political and socio-economic lines, it aims to create a more inclusive political landscape
