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Indigenization program must benefit youth: RBZ Governor
Youth Forum
August 02, 2011

The Youth Forum welcomes observations by the central bank Governor Gideon Gono that the current indigenization and empowerment drive should aim at empowering a broad spectrum of societal groups including youth. Dr. Gono said this in his July 2011 Monetary Statement on Friday the 29th of July.

The Youth Forum has always upheld the position that the indigenization and empowerment policy should aim at benefiting youth and other marginalised societal groups and not the already filthy-rich maniacs. This position has now been supported by the Governor who said, "The program should ensure the equitable redistribution of wealthy across the broad spectrum of societal groups notably, women, youth, chiefs and the physically handicapped. Whatever indigenization and empowerment model we adopt must fulfill certain aspirations of the population, hence the need for it to be broad-based, touching the grassroots people, the youth, and women, elderly and vulnerable, including special need groups such as the disabled. Chiefs, headmen down to the village heads and communities in between".

The Youth Forum concurs with the Governor and would like to task the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenization and Empowerment to release figures on how many youth and other marginalised people have so far benefited from the program seeing that it is now moving from the mining sector to the banking industry. We agree with Dr Gono that "The law must not be used to multiply pockets of inefficiency, in as far as utilization of national resources and opportunities of the country are concerned." It is also important to heed the Governor's warning to have a cautious approach in sectors as the financial sector, which are critical to the economy and confidence in such sectors must be sustained.

The laws must also assist the youth to establish enterprises that will become part of the value chain in the different sector, thus empowering the future generation and creating employment. This can be achieved through strategic interventions like providing a revolving fund to youth to start-up the businesses, providing relevant training to aspiring youth, ensuring that companies source a specified proportion of their inputs from indigenous entities as well as assisting youth in registering their own companies in a hustle-free environment. This will contribute immensely in attaining the first Millennium Development Goal which aims at reducing poverty and also in having a positive economic growth that is also inclusive as prescribed by the UNDP.

The incorporation of youth into the value chain will not only be felt on the economic front but will instill a deep sense of patriotism in the youth as they become productive and indispensible members of our nation. In order to make sure that such patriotism is fully achieved, it is imperative for the relevant authorities to secure the participation of young people when coming up with these policies, this engagement should not be limited to consultations but active participation and recognition as partners and as significant contributors to public policy.

In a bid to ensure that such participatory levels are achieved, the Youth Forum is encouraging all youth to go and register as voters and to participate in the next election. This is being done through the organization's "youth Go and Register and Vote" campaign that targets to assist one million new young voters to register before the next election.

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