The proportion of youths’ involvement in decision-making increased from 3,3 percent in 2020 to 5,2 percent in 2022, and youths now constitutes 34,8 percent of public and private sector employees and 42 percent of those in development processes, an official has revealed.
Speaking after Cabinet briefing on Tuesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said Cabinet received the report on the status of youth focal desks in Government line ministries, as presented by Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima who is also chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Social Services and Poverty Eradication.
Mutsvangwa said youth desks have been established in all ministries to ensure youths participate fully in development and empowerment programmes, adding that a total of 1 186 241 youths had accessed opportunities and services in Government line ministries by June 14 this year.
“Going forward, the desks and focal persons will also be further strengthened to ensure that they effectively address the national strategic intent through their activities.
“This will include concerted efforts to continuously build the capacity of youth focal persons and youths in general to improve their communication skills, patriotism, national strategic thinking, advocacy and counselling,” she said.
“Ministries, departments and agencies will continue to produce and publish comprehensive impact-based reports on implemented projects and other youth-related initiatives which are supported by evidence and statistics for the benefit of the public.”
All line ministries have appointed youth focal persons and established focal desks at national and provincial level, as required by section 20 paragraph 1 of the Constitution.
Since the establishment of youth desks, empowerment opportunities for youths had been availed in the agriculture, mining, tourism, manufacturing and social services sectors.
Young people are also invited to utilize services offered by the desks with the aim to advance their participation in the development of the country.
“The public is invited to note and exploit the following services offered by the desks: identifying and advertising youth development and empowerment programmes and opportunities in their Ministries; facilitating youth participation in the planning, implementation and monitoring of policies, programmes and projects; preparing sectoral reports and policy briefs; information and coordination of Ministry staff and youth desks in other Ministries; and researching and advising on the relevance and effectiveness of youth-related Ministry activities,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
