Youths call for better communication channels with policymakers

Image Source: Lunia Centre for Youths

By Nobukhosi Ndlovu

Stakeholders at a youth empowerment meeting held in Bulawayo yesterday cautioned that without strengthened communication and meaningful engagement between policymakers and young people, efforts to economically empower the youth will continue to face setbacks.

Hosted by the Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD), the meeting brought together stakeholders and youth leaders to discuss strategies for strengthening youth participation in Zimbabwe’s economy.

Melania Muvezwa from the Ministry of Local Government opened the meeting by reminding participants that the goal is to empower young people.

She said some of the gaps that exist are between what youths are promised in policies and what they actually see happening in their communities. “Young people don’t have proper platforms to influence their decisions,” she explained. Muvezwa’s remarks set the tone for the discussion which mainly revolved around one idea; real empowerment starts with better communication.

The discussions highlighted the importance of creating platforms where young people can engage directly with policymakers, ensuring that their concerns and ideas are not only heard but acted upon.

As the meeting progressed, Ruth Sibanda, a speaker from the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training observed that while frameworks exist, most youths are focused on immediate survival, often hungry and driven by the need to earn money to spare the time to learn about policies and government initiatives.

Sibanda urged stakeholders to rethink their approach, “We must position young people not only as practitioners but as leaders.” She stressed, noting that equipping youths with education, resources, and access to opportunities such as innovation hubs and vocational training centers is essential if they are to play a meaningful role in the economy.

Participants also emphasized that youths often fail to take a stand in accessing authentic information, spotlighting the need for policymakers to come up with strategies that meet young people where they are; on social media platforms, in communities, and in spaces they already occupy.

The discussion also touched on reliability, highlighting that institutions mandated to support youths, are distant and unaccountable, leaving young people vulnerable and without the resources they need to fund their projects and create a sustainable living.

Priviledge Mubako, from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community Small and Medium Enterprises then took to the podium, where he shared the challenges that youths face, that include factors like poor financial literacy and high interest rates, which make it difficult for young people to access credit or grow businesses.

To add depth to the sentiment from Mubako, Jacqueline Ndlovu, the host from WILD noted that young people must be groomed to strengthen their internal capacities. She argued that empowerment is not only about accessing external resources but also about nurturing discipline, confidence, and the ability to navigate around different environments.

During the meeting, participants recommended bridging the gap between policymakers and young people by creating platforms for youth leaders and their peers to engage in open discussions about everyday challenges. They also urged ministry offices to compile a database of civil society organizations working with youth, so these groups can help disseminate information more effectively across youth networks.

The dialogue was conducted under the Youth Collective Action for Social Transformation Alliance (YCA4SoTra) project, an initiative by WILD carried out in partnership with SAYWHAT and Saving Children, all working to strengthen youth organizations in Zimbabwe. By analyzing gaps, listening to youth realities, and creating strategies that meet young people where they are, the initiative seeks to transform recommendations into empowerment, positioning youths not as passive recipients but as active drivers of economic growth.

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