The government has assured youths who will graduate from the Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme that they will be given first preference for employment in government positions after completing their training.
This comes after the programme opened its doors to the first 1,000 youths, with 750 of them starting their training at the Dadaya Training Centre, and 250 female trainees beginning their training at the Vumba Centre.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/featured/youth-service-in-zimbabwe-training-begins/">ZBC News</a>, a representative of Chief Zimunya, Leonard Chigodora, challenged youths to participate in the programme, stating that it presents an opportunity for them to succeed in life. Chigodora said:
<blockquote>
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.
</blockquote>
Vumba Youth Service in Zimbabwe Training Centre Head Monica Chekera said the training takes six months with three months being spent at the training centre. She said:
<blockquote>
We focus on teaching youths to be productive, and 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.
</blockquote>
The Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire, who toured the Vumba Training Centre on Thursday, said the youths will get first preference to secure employment in government after completing the training programme. Said Machakaire:
<blockquote>
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 to fighting drug and substance abuse.
</blockquote>
Authorities say the Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme is designed to nurture patriotic, well-rounded and disciplined citizens
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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The Youth Service in Zimbabwe program is training 1,000 youths. They will have first preference for government jobs. The training takes six months. It focuses on teaching productivity, discipline, and pride in the country. The program aims to create patriotic and disciplined citizens. The Minister of Youth Empowerment supports the program. More youths may be enrolled in the future. The government is working with churches to fight drug abuse. The program is seen as a way to help young people succeed in life.

1 000 Youths Begin Youth Service Training

The recent reintroduction of the National Youth Service (NYS), which has been renamed Youth Service in Zimbabwe (YSZ), by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration is viewed by some critics as an attempt to brainwash young people into blindly supporting ZANU PF, reported <a href="https://newsday.co.zw/theindependent/local-news/article/200027642/green-bombers-return-triggers-fears-of-violence">The Independent</a>.
Before its suspension years ago, the programme was criticised for churning out the infamous ZANU PF youth brigades that became known as “Green Bombers” because of the colour of their uniforms.
According to several human rights reports, the “green bombers” unleashed an orgy of violence in the run-up to national elections, including rape and murder, targetting members of the opposition MDC.
Ruben Mbofana, a political analyst, said the YSZ programme will not foster patriotism, but create youths who are subservient to ZANU PF. He said:
<blockquote>
The purpose of the National Youth programme is not so much about inculcating patriotism. Let us remember that the definition of patriotism as far as ZANU PF is concerned is very different from the rest of the world. It is different from what we find in a dictionary.
As far as ZANU PF is concerned, patriotism is brainwashing the people of Zimbabwe, especially our youth into supporting the party. It is not about loving the country.
It is not about defending the country. It is about defending ZANU PF and its leadership. They want to confuse our youths that the love for one’s country is to love ZANU PF.
</blockquote>
Stephen Chan, a professor of World Politics at the University of London, said:
<blockquote>
If the new ‘Green Bombers’ are deployed as they were last time, they will be a coercive and often intimidating force.
If this is a serious national youth service, the model (should be like) what occurred in Zambia – truly constructive and developmentally focused.
</blockquote>
Mnangagwa relaunched the programme at Nhakiwa Vocational Training Centre in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, Mashonaland East Province on Friday, 24 May.
He said the Youth Service in Zimbabwe is designed to nurture patriotic, well-rounded and disciplined citizens.
The programme was initially launched by the late Youth minister Border Gezi in 2001. Gezi played a pivotal role in the programme’s establishment, setting the groundwork for its subsequent development.
In 2021, the Government attempted to reintroduce the programme. However, the unavailability of funds became a major stumbling block.
The training runs for six months and graduates have been promised automatic entrance in the civil service.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Return Of National Youth Service Triggers Fears Of Violence

The Youth Service in Zimbabwe, formerly known as the National Youth Service (NYS), is scheduled to begin in June 2024. It will enrol 750 youths from across the country.
Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, made this announcement during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare on Tuesday, April 2nd.
Tino Machakaire, the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development, and Vocational Training, briefed the Cabinet on the re-establishment of the National Youth Service Programme.
Muswere said since the Cabinet’s decision in 2021 to revive the National Youth Service program, the Ministry of Youth has achieved several milestones, including:
<ul>
<li>The National Youth Service Bill is being drafted following the approval of the Principles in August 2023;</li>
<li>Establishment of an Inter-Ministerial Implementation Committee to oversee the implementation of the programme;</li>
<li>The development of a 6-month training programme that will target youths between the ages of 18 and 35. The programme, which covers 3 months of institutionalised training and 3 months of community attachment, will commence in June 2024 with an enrolment of 750 youths nationwide. Those who undergo the training will be issued with certificates on completion of the programme;</li>
<li>The new curriculum will infuse national orientation with life skills training and entrepreneurial development;</li>
<li>New uniforms, signage and logo have been designed and will be registered;</li>
<li>All production units are expected to fully utilise available land and engage in commercial production units for self-sustenance; and</li>
<li>A total of 10 000 youths are earmarked to undergo training in 2024. The youths will be drawn equally from all the country’s ten provinces. The recruitment will be cascaded to incorporate youths in all wards and districts;</li>
<li>The National Youth Service Programme has been renamed Youth Service in Zimbabwe.</li>
</ul>
Muswere said in the future, young people who complete their training will be given priority in employment and enrollment in the public sector, higher education institutions, and tertiary education. Additionally, they will receive prioritization for financial support to establish new projects and businesses.
The Youth Service in Zimbabwe has faced severe criticism both within Zimbabwe and internationally. Graduates of the service were derogatorily referred to as “Green Bombers” due to their fatigue uniforms and the violence they perpetrated.
It was associated with gross human rights violations on behalf of the ruling ZANU PF party. Participants received some form of military training and were indoctrinated with absolute loyalty to ZANU PF.
They were allegedly involved in torture, harassment, and intimidation of political opponents, especially in rural areas.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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