By Staff Writer
GOVERNMENT says it is working out modalities to revive the National Youth Service (NYS) training popularly known as “Border Gezi” in a bid to graft the age group into key socio-economic development agenda.
When initially launched in 2001, the NYS had mandatory military training and was allegedly used for political purposes, especially in rural and peri-urban areas, and linked to election-related violence, including sexual abuse and torture.
As early as 2003, analysts argued that NYS trainees were exposed to murder, torture and rape as both victims and perpetrators. Like its predecessor, the revived programme is anticipated to primarily provide boots on the ground for the security sector and ruling party.
But speaking to The Humanitarian Post on the sidelines of the International Volunteer Day Commemorations in Harare Thursday, Deputy Youth Minister, and Kudakwashe Mupamhanga promised that the program set for re launch is rigorous departure from the initial one.
“At the moment I can’t pre-empty that. Deliberations are still on going. So I can’t give you breaking news on my own. I however definitely inform you that we intend to bring back the National Youth Service and we are still at a consultation stage.
“The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee travelled countrywide in the last session of Parliament and got feedback from that. There was also feedback to the Youth Minister in Cabinet,” he said.
Mupamhanga said the plans are also in line with our Youth Bill maintaining he can’t give any more snippets apart from that.
“But like I said before we want to have a volunteer component to enable these young people to receive training and empowerment as well as lessons our culture and identity as well as volunteering for the betterment of the country,” he said.
He said current work is involving a number of Ministries via the inter-Ministerial arrangement which means there will be a lot of back and forth consultations on the matter.
“With an organised structure for volunteers you can accelerate economic and social development.
“The significance is recognised in these young people for the work they are doing and also engaging our development partners so that we can together in manner in which the left hand can appreciate what the right hand is doing.
“The objective is about young people,” added Mupamhanga
