No youth service training, no job in public sector: Minister Machakaire
> Minister of Youth Tino Machakaire said that youths who go to university without a National Youth Service certificate may struggle to get a job. He warned that they could suffer when it comes to finding a job in Zimbabwe.
The National Youth Service (NYS) in Zimbabwe, rebranded as “Youth Service in Zimbabwe” and set to re-launch in June 2024, is a government-led program for citizens aged 18–35 (initially 10–30) aimed at fostering patriotism, discipline, and vocational skills. The program includes three months of training and three months of community service, targeting 10,000 youths in 2024 to enhance employment prospects.
Key Aspects of the Revamped Program:
Renamed & Focused: Formerly associated with the “Border Gezi” militia, the program is being rebranded to focus on national orientation, life skills, and entrepreneurial development.
Structure: Comprises 3 months of institutionalized training and 3 months of community attachment.
Recruitment: Initial 2024 intake of 750 youths, with plans to expand to 10,000, drawing equally from all ten provinces.
Benefits: Participants receive certificates and priority for employment in the public sector (police, army, nursing, teaching) and support for starting businesses.
Objectives: To instill patriotism, national identity, and technical skills while reducing youth unemployment.
Background and Controversy:
Introduced in 2000 by Border Gezi, the program was historically criticized for its association with political violence and the training of youth militia, often referred to as “Green Bombers”. The government announced its revival in 2021 as a, according to them, national service initiative aimed at empowerment rather than partisan activity.
