Herald Reporter
MDC-T legislators yesterday made a major climb-down by admitting that vocational training centres are important for youth development.

The party has in the past discredited the training centres, claiming that they are used to train youths partisan politics. The MDC-T legislators said the vocational training centres were noble, adding that there was a misconception by their party that vocational training centres were used as torture bases.

The MPs said this while contributing to a portfolio committee report on Women Affairs, Youth, Gender and Community Development, chaired by Sunningdale MP Margaret Matienga (MDC-T) on the challenges and constraints affecting operations of VTCs.

The MDC-T legislators joined their Zanu-PF counterparts in lauding the centres, and urged the Government to adequately resource them and increase their numbers to assist youths. The report stemmed from a tour of several centres by the committee.

Nkulumane MP Mr Thamsanqa Mahlangu said from his experience as Deputy Minister of Youth Development, the current perception on the centres is misguided.
“There has been a perception from my party that these VTCs are used for violence. These VTCs are for the people of Zimbabwe and not for Zanu-PF or MDC-T,” said Mr Mahlangu.

Masvingo West MP Mr Tachiona Mharadza (MDC-T) said there was a perception that if a ministry was being headed by a Zanu-PF minister, programmes it undertook were for that party.
“We need to support that minister, irrespective of the party that he belongs to,” he said.

Magwegwe MP Mr Felix Sibanda (MDC-T) said there was need to correct the perception about the centres.
He said in his constituency, he has been urging people to enroll at Lobengula Training Centre, but most of the youths were reluctant because of the perception they have.

“People still believe that these centres are for militia training,” he said.
On the conditions of the centres, Chiredzi East MP Mr Abraham Sithole (Zanu-PF) said because of under-funding, principals of some centres were sharing houses with students, a situation which exposed female students to sexual abuse.

“You cannot put a cat and a mouse in the same room,” he said.
Cde Sithole also noted that at some centres, some students were sleeping on the floor, with no blankets and food.
Most centres visited had no vehicles providing efficient service, while the infrastructure like ablution facilities were not properly working.

The committee also observed that the US$250 fees per semester were high considering that most of the students were from poor families.
Some politicians had assumed control of  portions of land owned by the centres.

The committee also said the centres should not be used for political activities and campaigns by political parties during elections.
It was also recommended that the Public Service Commission should allow the Ministry of Youth to employ and fill the centres with substantive principals.