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defended the recruitment of more than 7 000 youths as ward officers, saying this is consistent with his portfolio’s thrust to empower young Zimbabweans.
Minister Kasukuwere said the recruitment had been politicised.
He was giving oral evidence before the House of Assembly Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts.
The committee chaired by Makoni West MP, Mr We-bber Chinyadza (MDC-T) asked why the ministry had recruited 7 000 youths against a Treasury approval of 2 000 as observed by the Comptroller and Auditor-General.
Minister Kasukuwere said the ministry had much work to do countrywide and they in fact needed to recruit at least 15 000 youths.
“Young people of this country constitute 64 percent (of the population). We had actually wanted more than 15 000 youths to work in various wards.
“They lead youths in their area on leadership skills and entrepreneurship.
“They also co-ordinate Government activities in those wards,” he said.
“There are several youths in the country without jobs; there are numerous challenges confronting our country, we are under sanctions.”
Minister Kasukuwere said the recruitment had been politicised, with some sections of the media calling them “ghost workers” when they were bona-fide Government employees.
He said the youths in question were not asked which political parties they belonged to or supported.
Minister Kasukuwere said it would not be prudent to answer why they had recruited more people than Treasury had approved because the Public Service Commission was conducting an audit.
He said the Public Service Ministry would issue a comprehensive report, which he indicated was already before Cabinet.
“If my people are being paid it means they (Treasury) have approved, why are they paying them?
“I have not received any complaint from my staff that there are people who have not been paid, they are all receiving their salaries.
Mwenezi East MP Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti (Zanu-PF) said they should not be bogged down by an issue that the PSC had explained to the committee’s satisfaction three weeks earlier.
Mount Darwin East MP, Cde Betty Chikava (Zanu-PF) said the committee ought to summon Treasury officials to get an explanation why they were paying the youths if they did not approve their recruitment.
Minister Kasukuwere bemoaned the lack of resour-ces for youth officers, saying Treasury was taking long to release money for operations.