The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has said young people as digital natives, are leveraging technology not only to connect with millions but also to foster social change and support marginalized communities.
ZGC revealed this as they joined the world in commemorating the International Youth Day on Monday.
International Youth Day is celebrated on August 12 and this year’s theme was, “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development”.
“This year’s commemorations highlight the vital role of young people in driving inclusive and sustainable development through digital initiatives.
“Young people, as digital natives, are leveraging technology not only to connect with millions but also to foster social change and support marginalized communities.
“Their efforts in digital inclusion, bridging the digital divide, creating safe online spaces, and combating misinformation are pivotal in shaping a more equitable world.
“The Zimbabwe Gender Commission recognises the power of digital technology and that, when used responsibly, it is a tool that can be harnessed to drive the gender equality agenda,” read a statement from ZGC.
ZGC added, “we recognize that empowering young people, particularly through gender equality, is essential for national development and creating a more just society.
“Investing in youth-driven initiatives, especially in the digital realm, is crucial for maximizing their contributions to societal progress.
“The Commission also expresses concern about the rising trends of drug and substance abuse among young people. We therefore call upon the youth to say no to drugs and any negative influences.
“In view of the growing scourge of cyber bullying, ZGC reiterates that this is a criminal offence that Zimbabweans should desist from.”
ZGC further added that it important to recognise that early child marriages are robbing too many of the country’s youth of their future, hence citizens are reminded of the Constitutional obligations to uphold the best interests of the children.
“We call upon the government and other stakeholders to prioritize comprehensive youth programs and community initiatives, including investments in sports and recreational facilities.
“For government and other stakeholders to create safe work spaces for young people with due consideration of the specific needs of young women and girls.
“ZGC also calls for increased opportunities for young people in skills development leveraging on Education 5.0 model to ensure technological skills development in line with global trends.
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission remains committed to collaborating with partners to ensure a brighter, more equitable future for all young people. Let us collectively harness the power of our youth to build a prosperous Zimbabwe,” further added the statement.
The International Youth Day was established by the United Nations in 1999 to recognize the potential and contributions of young people around the world.
It was first celebrated on August 12, 2000.
The day aims to raise awareness about youth issues and concerns, promote ways to engage and empower young people and encourage governments, organisations, and individuals to support youth development.
The Youth Service in Zimbabwe which was rebranded from the National Youth Service; should start from Primary School Level as a subject, such that young people are inculcated with the values of patriotism and responsibility right from the onset.
This was revealed by Bishop Never Muparutsa who represents the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations and Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, on the sidelines of a meeting which religious leaders had at the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training on drug and substance abuse.
Bishop Muparutsa said the Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme “is a powerful, powerful programme,” which could also help in eliminating the drug and substance abuse scourge.
Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme is for youths aged between18-35 and it ensures patriotism and empowers them for nation building through life skills training and leadership development.
“The only issue is we have 1 000 people who are starting (Youth Service in Zimbabwe) versus 5 million youths, so the proposal that I bring is that why not make it a subject from Primary to Secondary School.
“Make it one of the key subjects that our young people are developed from the very word go; to be people who value the nation.
“The values of our nation must be inculcated in our children right from Primary School up to Secondary education.
“Rather than just make it vocational issue, make it part of our training of our young people.
“So that it can actually be made one of the conditions to go into next level of education rather than do you have Mathematics, English and other subject.
“That can be one of the conditions because our young people have been trained to respect their flag, to respect their nation, to respect their ubuntu values, to respect all that.
“Then it becomes very pertinent and critical, so we were very touched and we are very excited by that,” said Bishop Muparutsa.
He added: “what we want is let’s catch them young, so that they are not by the time we try to talk to them about drugs, we have already missed a lot. So that’s basically what we think must happen.”
Chief Director in the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Elias Murinda, said the idea is to ensure that all young people aged 18 to 35 years go through this training programme.
“So you can see that we have started with just 1 000 which is just almost nothing and therefore the Ministry of Youth might not succeed in reaching out to every young person.
“And therefore the programme will need to be mainstreamed in education, both primary, higher and tertiary in churches, religious institutions.
“We have to work together this objective in molding these young people in implementing this programme.
“And government has also said our youths whom we see that have really grasped the ideals of this programme and because of the orientation that they go through; might then not engage in drug and substance abuse.
“We strongly believe that the programme will have to reduce drug and substance abuse among young people, therefore they will be properly guided,” said Murinda.
He added that youths who go through the Youth Service in Zimbabwe will get priority or preference for enrolment in public institutions preferably they have the right qualifications that are required.
“And there are other advantages like getting access to institutions like the Police, Army, Prisons or even for those who want to further their education, so that they are better able to serve the country.
“So this is a rebranded National Youth Service training programme and we believe it will be different from the programme that we were implementing.
“And the message is we need to be working together in actually implementing the programme,” added Murinda.
While applauding the Youth Service in Zimbabwe programme, Davis Mambwe from the Zimbabwe Council of Pentecostal Churches said, those who are trained should not be seen to be violent as was associated with graduates from the former programme.
“Members from the National Youth Service were notorious for violence and people were really afraid of them because of those uniforms as some of them would terrorize even the elderly.
“So we hope with the coming in of this rebranded programme, they (youths) will be disciplined,” said Mambwe.
Minister Tino Machakaire, assured that such unruly behaviour will not be condoned as they (graduates) will be instilled with strict discipline.
Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire speaks, whilst his Deputy, Kudakwashe Mupamhanga looks on
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The Government has called on religious organisations to complement its efforts in fighting drug and substance abuse which is threatening the lives of many youths.
Speaking at a meeting with various religious leaders and representatives at his offices on Monday; Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Tino Machakaire, said there was need for divine intervention as the scourge was proving to be a menace.
He also revealed that youths had to be empowered in various business ventures like agriculture, so that they can develop themselves.
During the same meeting, the Zimbabwe Multisectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan 2024-2030, which was launched by President Mnangagwa recently, was also presented.
“Esteemed leaders, as shepherds of the youth in our congregations and organisations, we desire to get your views and ideas on ways to effectively collaborate to empower our youths and extricate them from this bondage.
“We do acknowledge that as religious organizations, you play a critical role in shaping the development of our youth and do have programmes in place that are dedicated to moulding and guiding them as they traverse the delicate phase of transitioning from childhood to adulthood.
“These programmes promote values of compassion, empathy, tolerance, and righteousness to help youth that agriculture is not a dirty business but lucrative and profitable.
“They should start to view farming as a business and a dynamic venture that rewards if done with passion. The most important thing is to farm from an informed point of view, and in this regard, my Ministry has a Business Development Department that can give information on what to grow for both the local and export market,” said Minister Machakaire.
Similar sentiments were also echoed by his Deputy, Kudakwashe Mupamhanga, who said the challenge which the country was facing requires collective efforts.
“There is need for a whole of government approach but I would also add to say the whole of society approach, so as a Ministry, we saw it fit to say, on this challenge that we are facing, let us call and invite leaders of religious organisations.
“This meeting is crucial so that we discuss all the issues affecting the youths. We did that because we realised that there are about 5,4 million youths, so looking at the church as a constituency and other religions organisations, we realise that you do quite a lot work.
“And you are a big stakeholder in shaping the moral fibre of our youths, so as a result, it’s very important that if are doing this, we need you. It is a fact that as government, we cannot do it alone and I would like to thank the vision of our President Dr E.D Mnangagwa because he has pushed for an inclusive society, he has pushed for inclusive government, he has pushed for the inclusion of young people, women and just last week, we were at a disability expo, where we had a lot of religious organisations there.
Bishop Kingstone Musarurwa Chirau
“So that as we build our nation, we leave no-one and no place behind, everyone has a role to play, so as result when we talk about fighting drug and substance abuse, all religious organisations, be it Christian, Moslem, Jewish, whatever, we each have a role to play,” said Minister Mupamhanga.
Sheikh Ishmail Duwa
Speaking on the sidelines of the same event, Sheikh Ishmail Duwa, Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs Zimbabwe President, said the programme was really good because in all the scriptures be it in the Quran or Bible, God abhors the taking of drugs or substances.
“Because if people just take drugs willy-nilly, then there is no development in the country so I actually think that this programme should really be driven by all religious leaders.
“And according to Islam, the taking of drugs is a great sin against God, so we really support this programme.
“So we now need to look at how we can empower the youths, because we need to look at the root cause of these problems and most of this, is being caused by unemployment,” said Sheikh Duwa.
Another religious leader, Bishop Kingstone Musarurwa Chirau from the Church of God of Africa, said he was grateful for this programme because if all the plans are implemented, the country will make great strides to eliminate the scourge.
“If this problem is left untamed, it will really ruin the youths, we will have serious challenges hence we need to deal with this once and for all. If we have lost our youths, then it will spell doom for our nation.
“But with this programme, we are bound to have a better future because our youths will stop taking drugs because religious organisations have been included.
“We need to eliminate all harmful practices which are leading our youths to take drugs and we want to thank the President for launching Drug and Substance Abuse programme; we are really grateful for this.”
Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The government has approved the setting up of a Security Service and specialized Drug and Substance Elimination Agency/National Drug Agency, as the country is currently battling with drug and substance use especially amongst the youths.
Briefing the media following Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere, said the agency will be responsible for the enforcement of laws that deal with drug and substance trafficking, use and abuse as well as coordinating efforts of other support services.
He also revealed that the “prevalence of drug and substance abuse has become a global issue and Zimbabwe has not been spared.
“Drug and Substance Abuse has become a threat to economic development, social harmony, health and wellbeing, public order and security.
“Cabinet has thus approved the Principles for the enactment of the Zimbabwe Drug and Substance Agency Bill, 2024 that paves way for the establishment of an additional Security Service and specialized Drug and Substance Elimination Agency/National Drug Agency.
“The Agency will be responsible for the enforcement of laws that deal with drug and substance trafficking, use and abuse as well as coordinating efforts of other support services,” said Minister Muswere.
Minister Muswere also reported that government continues to intensify its response against drug and substance abuse across the country.
“Since January 2024, about 6 148 people were arrested, 677 were suppliers and 5 471 were end-users.
“A total of 106 illegal drug and substance trading bases were identified, raided and destroyed in Harare, Shamva, Chinhoyi, Bindura, Bulawayo and Mutare. “Fifty-one liquor outlets were charged for operating without the correct licenses and while 268 operators were also arrested for violating license conditions, 17 outlets had their licenses cancelled for violating operating conditions.
“A total of 311 countrywide inspections on medicine outlets were conducted and 62 lines of medicines were confiscated.
“Awareness campaigns on drug and substance abuse are being accelerated targeting adults, youths and children.
“Cabinet has approved the Zimbabwe Multi-Sectoral Drug and Substance Abuse Plan 2024-2030 that outlines a comprehensive strategic approach to address the escalating threat of drug and substance abuse to public health, economic growth, national security, and social stability in Zimbabwe,” added Minister Muswere.
He also reported that the decentralization of the Drug and Narcotics Department will be expedited as cabinet also approved the review and updating of fine structure of the organization and directed that suppliers must be prosecuted through the courts and not through spot fines.
“Establishment of outpatient Psychosocial Support Centers and parenting groups countrywide as well as the purchase of psychotropic medicines and food provisions for rehabilitation centers will be expedited.”
It was also reported that empowering the youths remains critical hence the Youth Service training programme will start in June 2024 at Dadaya and Vumba Training Centres.
“In addition, as a key measure to reduce indulgence, ensuring financial inclusivity is being heightened and a total of USD20 000 has been loaned to youths across the country for income generating projects through the Empower Bank.”
Tatenda Songore, Youth Advocates Executive Director
BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
A SADC helpline project which is being implemented in Zimbabwe, Botswana and Malawi has reached over 22 000 adolescents and young people to access integrated HIV services.
The projected which was piloted in three districts in the three countries, Zvishavane (Zimbabwe), Francistown (Botswana) and Zomba (Malawi) has been famed for improving the wellbeing of youths.
Tatenda Songore, Executive Director of Youth Advocates who are spearheading the project also revealed that they have gone beyond issues to do with HIV prevention or treatment, to include other social support services.
“All of the 22 000 youths have been actually tested for HIV and we have managed to get at least 4 percent of them who were diagnosed HIV positive and they were put on treatment.
“We are very excited also on the fact that 94 percent of young people who were diagnosed HIV positive are on treatment, actually the figure is 96 percent, which means we have surpassed the 95 percent target for the UNAIDS.
“So these are the key achievements and we are looking at scaling up this project.
“The impact of this project has been seen beyond HIV prevention, to address issues of drug and substance, gender based violence to also helping young people to return back to school after they were out of school because of different problems.
“We know that when young people are out of school, they are more vulnerable to risky behaviour and HIV so we have been able to return young people using 393 helpline within the three countries,” said Songore.
Both Malawi and Zimbabwe use 393 toll free helplines while for Botswana it’s 16658, which youths can access and get help on various issues affecting them.
When the youths call the toll free lines, they are helped through ongoing counselling services, information dissemination and referral to services and follow-up on the uptake of such services.
Songore further revealed that those youths who were having challenges with drug and substance abuse, were given mental health support.
“Some of the most interesting achievements of this project also look at how we were also able to look beyond the fact that when young people are on drug and substance abuse, they are more vulnerable to GBV.
“They are more vulnerable to risky behaviour and we have been able to support about 7 000 young people who were showing symptoms of drug and substance use and we have also been able to put them on mental health support beyond the project,” he revealed.
He also revealed that since drug and substance abuse is now a pandemic in the region, they had been able to leverage on the HIV fund from SADC which has seen them addressing several issues that put young people at risk.
Further commenting on the 393 toll free youth helpline, Songore said when any young person in the country uses it, they can make a call or whatsapp or use chat box where they can be educated using written formats, video and audio formats.
He also revealed that the platform has registered tremendous success because over 90 percent of users complete their courses unlike the traditional way of communicating with young people.
“They (youths) are more concentrated, they are more focused, they do it at their own pace and we are able to address multiple issues from HIV.
“We are also able to address mental health, we are also able to address emerging issues like cholera and we also able to respond and educate young people on measles as well,” added Songore.
He also revealed that in Zimbabwe they had piloted the SADC Youth Help Line in Zvishavane “because of high activity of artisanal miners, issues of drug and substance abuse, issues of young people who were dropping out of school and going to do artisanal mining.
“Child marriages are also very rampant, so we explored Zvishavane to try and explore those issues using mobile technology and we have been very effective because in Zvishavane alone, we reached 8 600 young people in a period of two years and in a rural community, this is very much a significant figure.”
Jeremia Manyika, UNAIDS Zimbabwe: Adviser: Equality and Rights for all
Speaking at the same function, Jeremia Manyika, UNAIDS Zimbabwe: Adviser: Equality and Rights for all; said it was commendable to see young people showing leadership, adding that it was resonating well with the last year’s International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) theme, “let communities lead”.
“We are really emphasizing the theme of let communities lead, we are very delighted that we see the communities actually leading and when we say communities we are actually talking about the actual people that are affected and infected by HIV.
“And in this case we talking about young people and they are there in their numbers leading the project and we are very elated and happy about that development,” he said.
He added that it was good that partners had collaborated to make this a success for the benefit of young people.
“Again to reiterate our theme let communities lead, the UNAIDS Global AIDS strategy provides guidance to countries towards ending AIDS by 2030 and we are talking about what we call the 30-60-80 and these are targets that are really important if we are to meet them we will be able to end AIDS by 2030.
“We are saying 30 percent of HIV treatment services should be led by communities and when we say communities of young people it is young people who should be leading the services.
“Then 60 percent of programmes to address barriers to HIV care and support should also be led by communities and when we talk of communities, communities of young people should be leading the programmes to end stigma, to end discrimination to address barriers to HIV care and support and 80 percentage of programmes for women, young people and key populations must be led and coordinated by women, young people and the key populations themselves for us to be able to end AIDS within those communities let communities lead.
“So the 30-60-80 targets are a reality when we witness communities taking leadership and ownership of programmes as we see in this intervention, the call line 393.
“Am happy to note that the intervention has contributed significantly to achieving the 95-95-95 targets by increasing uptake of…HIV testing services by young people.
“As we move towards sustainability approaches to the HIV epidemic, we are excited to see communities lead and we are excited to see communities lead initiatives that demonstrate effective engagement of young people in their diversity to ensure that no-one and no place is left behind.
“It is noteworthy that the youth helpline goes beyond HIV prevention and treatment to address broader issues of social protection, mental health, gender based violence substance abuse among other challenges being faced by young people,” added Manyika.
Freeman Dube, Research and Documentation Coordinator at National Aids Council
Freeman Dube, Research and Documentation Coordinator at National Aids Council (NAC) said they had endorsed the project which had not only improved the lives of young people but also adults.
“We should celebrate those achievements and we as NAC have even said what is good as the way forward, is we integrate the work of the call centre within existing programmes.
“And by the way the capacity of the line is not only for Zvishavane District although it was the focus of the SADC project, the capacity is national, so our districts as NAC is to integrate promotional activities for the call centre to be utilized across the country,” said Dube.
Thando Madondo, who is one of the beneficiaries of the Youth Advocates project said he was supported in his passion for music, recording three songs.
He also revealed that the empowerment by Youth Advocates had been a good escape for him as some of his peers in his community have fallen to drugs.
“On the issue of drug and substance abuse, I know for a fact that they will ruin one’s life, you won’t make any progress.
“If I look at the community where I live, many youths have fallen to drugs, you will see young people smoking weed, but because of the guidance I get here at Youth Advocates, I just made a I vow that I won’t partake in drug and substance abuse, it destroys my life, so I rather just empower my life.
“I recorded three songs under Youth Advocates, namely, Youth Advocate, which showcases the brand of the organisation as a whole, then there is another one called Zvinodhaka, I sang it after some youths died during the Covid-19 pandemic. Those who died were under the wrong influence, like I remember some would say if they take whiskey, they would not contract covid, but this was wrong. Then I also did a song called Child marriage which really touched on this growing scourge in the country,” added Madondo whose stage name is Firemaster.
Guests from Malawi, Botswana, government ministries, students among others, attended the event which was held at Youth Advocates head office in Chitungwiza.
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