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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
About 16 000 youths in Mashonaland Central are taking part in the Youth Build Zimbabwe (YBZ) initiative spearheaded by the National Youth Service (NYS), which is contributing to infrastructure development in the province.

NYS deputy director Mr Byl Manyange said the youths provide voluntary labour to schools, clinics and parastatals like the District Development Fund (DDF).

The youths are presently involved in the construction of the Centre Zimbabwe Africa High School in Madziwa, Shamva owned by Johane Masowe eChishanu Vadzidzi VaJesu Church and Nyamwinyu Primary School in Mt Darwin.

“The programme was initiated in 2010 and it’s a model copied from countries like Rwanda and Kenya for youths owned community based programmes. It also promotes voluntarism as they assist public works without expecting anything in return,” said Mr Manyange.

“The youths are trained and orientated while coming from their respective homes instead of institutionalising them at Boarder Gezi Training Centre.

“We teach them about the history of the country, physical fitness and drills. We are trying to instil discipline in youths, you will never see them destroying the infrastructure they helped construct.

“They are exposed to life skills because we want to produce a semi-skilled individual. Each year we target 5 000 youths, but the interest has been overwhelming and last year we surpassed the target by 7 332  youths.

“Schools approach us with their projects and the youths provide labour, resulting in these institution making savings on labour costs. We also have female members although they are few. The programme is  apolitical.

“We also invite qualified people from relevant ministries to talk to the youths about health issues, environmental management as well as crime and crime prevention.”

Mr Manyange said Voluntary Training Centres (VTC) like Chaminuka offered their lectures to teach the youths about brick laying and carpentry, among other courses.