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Fungai Lupande Mash Central Bureau

The Youths Build Zimbabwe programme has transformed young people in Mashonaland Central Province into disciplined, compassionate, patriotic and hardworking citizens with a sense of national pride.

Drawn from all the eight districts of the province, the youths are voluntarily engaged in construction work at Centre for Zimbabwe Africa (CZA).

After six months of training, the youths will leave the place semi-skilled in carpentry, building and electronics.

The programme is a partnership between the National Youth Service and CZA (Johane Masowe eChishanu Vadzidzi VaJesu).

It started in 2016 and saw the youths being assisted in the construction of a two-storey Advanced Level classroom block, a girls and boys’ dormitory and a primary school.

While the 50 youths were working at the church, five homesteads at Fakanya Village were burnt by veld fires.

The youths went to assist the community in rebuilding the homes using resources provided by the church.

Mr Takudzwa Manyanyire said helping the community to rebuild damaged homes was fulfilling and gave him a sense of purpose.

“The affected families lost their property, clothes and food. They were not in a position to build back on their own,” said Mr Manyanyire.

“Seeing how happy they were, was the greatest reward I could wish for.”

Mr Genias Vambe (24) said he joined the programme with no skill, but is now able to build a house and do electrical engineering.

His wish is to join the Zimbabwe National Army.

“I have laid my foundation and if I fail to join the army, I will advance my education in electrical engineering or building.

“I advise my peers to join this programme because we need survival skills. When I go back home, I am able to assist my community. The President’s vision is for Zimbabwe to be an upper middle income by 2030.

“What we are doing here is responding to this vision and we are taking the lead in building our country,” said Mr Vambe.

Ms Winfielder Muchenje (19) said the programme was not difficult for her despite it consisting of manual labour.

“I gained physical fitness and during ideology studies, I gained a deeper understanding of my country.

“I dropped out of school due to financial constraints and this programme opened has my eyes. Now I have so many ideas of what I want to do with my life,” she said.

Ms Greater Chikwizo (27) said the programme has moulded her into a semi-skilled carpenter, builder and electrical engineer.

She was not bothered by not receiving a salary or allowance, saying she was thankful for gaining skills and knowledge.

“You don’t need any qualification to join this programme and I encourage girls who are at home to join and change their lives,” she said.

Officiating at the graduation ceremony of the 50 youths, Director of Youths, Sport and Recreation, Mrs Theresa Mupanduki said the programme was taking youths away from drug and substance abuse.

“Our youths come here with no skills at all but by the time they leave, they are disciplined, patriotic and hardworking youths,” she said.

“The chance offered to these youths has taken them off the streets and away from the scourge of harmful drugs and substances.

“This programme ensures that our youths use their time productively away from dangerous drugs.”

The youths helped in the construction of a classroom room block for CZA Pre-School, five by three classroom blocks at CZA Primary School, three teacher’s houses and an administration block.

Mrs Mupanduki was impressed that the youths went on to assist the Fakanya community to rebuild homes following a veld fire.

She said the youths were trained in brick and block laying, electrical engineering, carpentry and joinery, with the assistance of craft persons and skills trainers from Vocational Training Centres (VTCs).

“The National Youth Service Department equipped the youths with physical education training, national orientation and discipline.

“These youths are now empowered with skills that they are going to use in their lives,” she said.

The church provided accommodation, food and protective clothing.

Church leader, Mambo-Stablon, Mr Ishamel Magodi, said they constructed the school in the space of seven years with help from Youths Build Zimbabwe.

He said the vision of the late church founder, Aaron Mhukuta Gomo, commonly known as Madzibaba Wimbo, was infrastructure development.

“This was unheard of since 1931 since Johane Susupence and we were known for worshiping under trees.

“Our leader Majinetsa MIJS (Madzibaba Wimbo) pledged US$3 000 so that we could start building schools and we have never stopped since then,” he said.