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Green bombers’ to return

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BY Trevor Makonyonga 


Government has Tuesday approved the re-establishment of the National Youth Service Training Program.


This was revealed yesterday by Information minister, Monica Mutsvangwa at the post cabinet briefing in Harare.


This comes after a proposal was presented by the Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, Kirsty Coventry.


Mutsvangwa said the approval was an agreement between the Defence Ministry and the Youth Ministry.

“The proposal came as a result of consultations between the Ministries of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation; and Defence and War Veterans Affairs. Cabinet noted that National Youth Service is an important youth development programme which is crucial in nurturing young people into becoming responsible and resilient citizens with a clear sense of national identity and respect for national values. 


“The program is a key strategy for youth empowerment in national, regional, continental and international development guiding frameworks to which Zimbabwe is a member. The frameworks include the SADC Revised Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan; the African Youth Charter of 2006; the World Program of Action on Youth; and the United Nations Youth Strategy 2030.”


The youth program will target persons between the ages of 18 and 35 years with “patriotism, discipline, volunteerism, survival skills, hard work, loyalty, tolerance, resilience, determination and honesty.”


The roll-out of the National Youth Service Program will involve community attachment of youths for work experience and service to various Government departments and local authorities. Graduates of the Program will qualify for further training, assistance in starting businesses, and for enrolment for careers in the police, the army, the airforce, nursing and teaching, among others.  


The Program will also take on board the disabled, and maintain gender balance and fair regional representation, with recruitment taking place through District Offices.


During training the youths will be encouraged to participate in development projects and disaster response activities and thereby assist in enhancing national capacity to manage disasters.

“Cabinet further resolved that the National Youth Service Program will be funded by Government, upon enactment of the necessary law. The Program shall also be mandated to generate its own income through engagement in commercial activities. The youths will not pay fees but will be provided with uniforms, training kits and travel expenses, and will be accorded allowances as the economy improves. More details on the implementation modalities of the policy will be provided as the programme unfolds.”


Graduates of the National Youth Service program nicknamed ‘green bombers’ because of their green uniform have in previous years been accused of perpetrating violence against members of opposition parties.

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