Back to Index

We have failed: Zimbabwe Youth Council
Youth Forum
October 11, 2011

The disreputable Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) is at it again, this time trying to quench their insatiable thirsty for money by requesting millions of 'alcohol' dollars to fund their nefarious activities.

The Youth Forum is in possession of a document by the ZYC titled "ALCOHOL PROPOSAL: Support for Youth Development & Empowerment Programmes from Alcohol Levy Collection", and a presentation paper by the Kasukuwere-picked ZYC board, headed by his chairman, Hamilton Pazvakavambwa, to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee responsible for youth development.

The Alcohol Proposal, drunk like its name, parades grave lack of concern for the unpleasant situation the young people of Zimbabwe find themselves in. Instead of underlining the plight of the disempowered youths, Pazvakavambwa decided to show worry on the effects of such disempowerment on the ruling elite.

"When a government operates in the fashion I have outlined . . . , it risks revolt from young people which can actually turn to a revolution. Africa is worse than other continents because African youths are the most populous" said the ZYC chairman, proving what he fears most is trouble for the elite after 'a revolution' if the youths' dire situation is not addressed.

It is, however, comforting to note that the chairman did not mince his words on accepting that the Council has grossly failed to speak to youth issues saying, "As board members here present . . . we have failed to raise our voice and challenge the older generation that has grown complacent on developing their own young brothers". This is a blatant acceptance and confirmation of what the Youth Forum has alluded to, that the ZYC, due to its composition, cannot be relied upon to deliver meaningful development for youths in the country.

It is disheartening to note that after conceding failure to represent youths, the Council goes on to request a staggering US$30 million purportedly for "implementing programmes for the empowerment of youths". While acknowledging that such programmes are indeed a necessity, what is of serious distress is the credibility of the body requesting such amounts on behalf of young men and women of Zimbabwe.

The Youth Forum is of the view that, due to the excessive lack of transparency and the divisive tactics exhibited by the ZYC, it should never administer such amounts of money. Such a fund is better of being managed by a more transparent and inclusive body to ensure that it does not end up funding immoral activities like the infamous National Youth Service that produces graduates with degrees in violence.

In a direct response to an article by the Youth Forum titled "Difficult for youths to access development funds" published in the NewsDay of 15 September 2011, the Youth Ministry published a list of supposed beneficiaries of the YDF in the state-owned daily paper, The Herald, on 6 0ctober 2011. However, the list lacks certain basic but important information on these 'beneficiaries', for example their contact details as we run the risk of believing in a list of 'ghost beneficiaries'.

It is also interesting to know how these 'marginalized and disadvantaged' youths managed to provide the required collateral, often more costly than the loan granted, for the loans.

It is also important that we are appraised as to the nature of business/proposals these individuals are involved in and the selection criteria used as there are reports retail businesses (buying and selling) which is not funded under the YDF have been clandestinely funded.

The ZYC has been granted smaller amounts in the past, monies that have been spuriously used by the body. The Council runs the Youth Development Fund (YDF), meant for meant to assists the financially incapacitated but entrepreneurially savvy youths, which they have run as a party fund meant for their young surrogates and merchants of violence.

The US$30 Million request comes at a time when many youths are still asking what the ZYC did with the US$41 Million it was allocated as part of the YDF amid allegation of serious misuse of the fund, nepotism and distribution on a partisan basis.

Visit the Youth Forum fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP