ZYPC calls for youth economic empowerment in local authorities
Patience Moyo
The Zimbabwe Youth Promotion Corporation( ZYPC), a youth centred social enterprise, has written to over ten local authorities including city, rural and town councils in its concerted push for authorities to include the youth economic empowerment agenda in their full council meetings for this month.
The letter calls on the authorities to economically empower youths in line with provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
According to the ZYPC the local authorities have failed to adhere to section 20 (1) (c) of the constitution of Zimbabwe which obliges the council and other state institutions to take reasonable measures to ensure that the youths are granted employment opportunities.
“Our findings have shown that from the year 2013, the time when the new constitution came into effect until now your council has not taken any significant measure to ensure that the youths are accorded the opportunities of employment and other avenues of empowerment,” said the ZYPC in the letter penned by Believe Guta, the organization’s Interim President.
The ZYPC alleged that the youths have suffered both “financial and economic prejudice”
as a result of the local authorities’ failure to adhere to the constitutional obligations which aim at benefiting the youths.
Furthermore, the ZYPC made recommendations on measures that may be taken to ensure that youths are not economically disenfranchised.
A raft of measures suggested include prioritization of the youths on all available and upcoming tuckshops, garden or flea markets spaces including all commercial land spaces, establishment of a youth focal at council offices, ,imposing a “Youth discount” to all youths on business and shop license fees and prioritization of the youths on all upcoming job vacancies in councils.
The scathing letter was also copied to the Minister of Youths, Sports and Recreation, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youths, Sports and Recreation, among other relevant bodies.
