By Dennis Ndlovu| Zim GBC News
Zimbabwe’s Parliament was the scene of spirited debate on Tuesday, 9th, as Hon. Mutsa Fransisca Murombedzi, a Proportional Representation Member of Parliament for Mashonaland West, tabled a motion pushing for urgent youth employment strategies and a review of retirement age policies. The motion sparked intense discussion, highlighting growing concerns over job scarcity among young people and the long-term impact of current government employment frameworks.
The motion, supported by Hon. Ropafadzo Makumire, Member of Parliament for Chiredzi Central, highlighted the demographic reality that 62% of Zimbabwe’s population is under the age of 35, and raised alarm over the impact of Statutory Instrument 201 of 2024, which increased the pensionable retirement age for civil servants from 65 to 70 years. Both lawmakers argued this move has unintentionally reduced the chances for young graduates to enter the workforce, exacerbating already high youth unemployment.
Hon. Makumire emphasized the plight of more than 30,000 graduates released annually from universities and colleges who either leave the country in search of better opportunities, become street vendors, or fall prey to drug and substance abuse due to lack of jobs.
“Our young people are not just leaders of tomorrow, they are the strength and energy of today,” he said.
The motion calls on the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare to:
- Create a quota system for youth employment in the Public Service
- Ensure all public service vacancies prioritize trained young professionals
- Review relevant laws to raise age limits for military and police recruits
- Establish an Inter-Ministerial Committee to develop a youth economic empowerment framework
- Simplify and publicize youth employment tax incentives
- Create a national youth employment database to guide policy
Hon Makumire echoed the constitutional mandate under Section 20(1)(c) requiring the government to provide economic opportunities for youth. He described the current situation as a national crisis, with many graduates underemployed or engaging in risky behavior due to hopelessness. He also linked the motion to Zimbabwe’s commitments to Sustainable Development Goals that promote decent work, quality education, and peaceful inclusive societies.
Addressing concerns about meritocracy, Hon. Murombedzi stressed that qualified young people are simply asking for a fair chance. She questioned why trained teachers and nurses remain unemployed while schools and clinics face staffing shortages, pointing to a lack of political will rather than a shortage of qualified candidates.
The debate framed the issue not as a generational conflict but as a call for balance, honoring the contributions of senior citizens while creating space for young Zimbabweans to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The motion is expected to spur government action aimed at reversing youth unemployment trends and reducing brain drain, paving the way for inclusive economic growth and social stability.
Zimbabwe’s youth, as both lawmakers emphasized, are not just the future, they are the present. And their empowerment is crucial for the nation’s progress.
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