Story by Kenias Chivuzhe
THE branded Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme, designed to nurture patriotic, well-rounded and disciplined citizens, has opened its doors to the first 1000 youths.
The launch of the Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme by President Emmerson Mnangagwa has paved the way for the start of training programmes with Dadaya Training Centre accommodating 750 youths and Vumba Centre having 250 female trainees.
The training programme for the youth marks a new beginning for the country towards empowering youths to become responsible citizens.
“We are excited to witness young people being trained to promote the development of the country. This shows that the government knows what it is doing. The youths should take this chance seriously to succeed in life,” said a representative of Chief Zimunya, Mr Leonard Chigodora.
Vumba Youth Service in Zimbabwe Training Centre Head Miss Monica Chekera spoke on the areas to be covered in the training programme.
“We focus on teaching youths to be productive, disciplined, and to have pride in their country. We train youths even those with degrees and masters as long you are a youth. At this centre, we are training women alone. Recruitment is done by youth officers at the district level. The training takes six months with three months being spent at the training centre while the other three months is dedicated to community attachment,” she said.
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Honourable Tino Machakaire toured the Vumba Training Centre this Thursday and noted how the training will be a game changer in fighting drug and substance abuse.
“We have started youth service in Zimbabwe training programmes. Here there are 250 youths while in Midlands Province at Dadaya we managed to take about 750 students that are already there. We have also engaged with several churches that are supporting the initiative. We hope to increase our enrolment and by next year the figures will improve. We have a serious problem with drugs and this is the way to go. Last week we had a meeting with church leaders to train youths in their churches. We need to have a whole-of-society approach in fighting drug and substance abuse,” said the minister.
Minister Machakaire assured the youths that they will get first preference to secure employment in government after completing training programme.
