Bulawayo youths demand share of city’s economy

YOUTHS in Bulawayo have engaged the local authority for consideration in the allocation of tenders for business and other opportunities including involvement in the utilisation of various social centres for entrepreneurship projects. Through the Bulawayo Vendors and Traders Association (BVTA) lobbying, in partnership with other stakeholders, the youth have called for inclusive participation in the mainstream economy. A “Youth Model Policy” has since been rafted to that effect and handed over to the Bulawayo City Council for consideration and further deliberations. As part of its mandate, the BVTA also facilitates dialogue sessions focused on youth economic empowerment and how to create opportunities for young people and women in Bulawayo. On Wednesday, a feedback meeting was held in the city, which was attended by council officials, and representatives from the Ministry of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation together with Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, and Empower Bank. Speaking at the event, Bulawayo deputy mayor, Councillor Mlandu Ncube, said the council has embraced some of the propositions in its policies, especially the need to look into recreational facilities to allow youth to fine-tune their talents, consideration of youth’s health consultations as well as having a certain quota of its tenders set aside for the youths. “The proposed policy given to usby BVTA and other stakeholders speaks to the provision of youth centres, economic opportunities for youths, and creation of health facilities, which can handle youth issues,” said Clr Ncube. “BCC has already adopted some of the key highlights of the proposed policy but we are still waiting for input from other relevant stakeholders. “Now if you can move around the city, we have hired youth leaders in those available youth centres, and in terms of economic opportunities there is affirmative action given to young people’s businesses. If you go to our health facilities, there are peer educators and these are some of the milestones we have achieved from the suggested youth policy,” said Councillor Ncube. “The proposed policy has enlightened us on some of the issues and it has given us a tool as representatives to point out some grey areas, which need attention.” He also said the council has its own youth policy, which looks into empowering youths, skills development, and financing youth programmes to mention but a few. Clr Ncube said the Government and local authorities have policies that seek to empower and promote youth but their participation in public hearings and consultations tends to be minimal. He said this trend ends up affecting the allocation of resources to youth needs as they do not represent themselves and table their needs in appropriate platforms. An official from the Ministry of Youth, Art, Sport, and Recreation said Zimbabwe has made strides in promoting youth empowerment, resulting in the crafting of the National Youth Policy, which outlines strategies by the Government to empower local youths through economic empowerment and skills development interventions. The Government has established funding platforms for youth, which include the Empower Bank for any youth-led project and the Women’s Micro-Finance Bank, which is meant to fund women-led businesses. A representative for the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development also urged youths to register their businesses so that they can be able to participate in tendersfrom local authorities and other Government organisations. The ministry also offers training on business management and financial literacy to youths and they also assist them to register their businesses through their 100-day cycle programme.

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