Brian Rungano Temba
The Zimbabwe National Youth Services Graduates Association yesterday held its elective congress in Masvingo after 16 years.
ZNYGSA last held an event of this magnitude in 2006.
The ZNYGSA is an organisation of National Youth Services graduates, who have gone to pursue different interests afterwards.
Formerly known as the a rite of passage for any patriotic citizen who had come of Age, National Youth Service (NYS)was founded by the late former ZANUPF Political Commissar Border Gezi and then Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Recreation.
The NYS was later incorporated into the Ministry’s psychomotor and basic survival skills training component that would be discontinued during the Government of National Unity.
The Congress comes soon after Government announced the rejuvenation of the NYS training programme for youths.
Speaking to TateguruTV hosting Provincial Commander for Masvingo, Cde Tavara Mudukuti explained that the Congress would not only set the path forward for the association but rid them of rogue elements that had put the association to shame over the years.
“We have taken this opportunity as Graduates of the National Youth Service Programme to take account of ourselves as many have strayed from the fray.
Our organisation had become personal property for rogue elements who sought to use it to raise funds for their own wayward political and personal endeavours.
Since its inception, the Association has recruited and graduated over 80 000 members to date. It is for this reason that we have returned to the drawing board,” said Cde Mudukuti.
He also said that the likes of Godfrey Tsenengamu, Jim Kunaka and Absolom Madusususe had started a crusade, trying to poison NYS graduates, trying to use them to spread the enemy`s agenda.
ZNYSGA National Cordinator Cde Calvin Chitsunge told attendees at the National Congress that in response to these shenanigans by divisive elements, the ZNYSGA is done with process necessary for the setting up of District and Provincial Command structures in preparation for the National Congress.
“We can safely say that our structures are intact and from the grassroots to national level.
Currently there is a data collection programme that a running as well as Association Identification card issuing to the same effect,” he said.
“The timing of the National Congress coincides with the preparations for 2023 Harmonized election campaigns in which we offer our support towards the attainment of plus 5 million votes in favour of a second term for His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa,” added Cde Chitsunge.
Speaking at the event, Provincial Commanders from all attending chapters solidified their endorsement of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sole Presidential candidature for the upcoming 2023 Harmonised elections.
In their Provincial updates on the state of the organisation, they raised issues such as their request to be affiliated to the Ruling Party ZANUPF and not the Youth League as many of the graduates have transitioned out of the youth wing.
Other points raised include the need to be empowered with Vocational Training opportunities, Capacity building in production and value addition industries, accessibility of Mining rights and Land to Farm on.
Speaking as the Guest of Honour at the ZNYSGA National Congress, ZANUPF Acting Provincial Youth Chairman Cde Tawanda Mandebvu said that the ZNYSGA must strive not only to be an affiliate to the Party, but to become a wing in the Party as they represent the Vanguard of the party.
“It was becoming worrisome that you, the Big Brothers of the Youth League had gone silent, a lot has been going on in your absence.
Government opportunities have been churned out in their lump sums but beneficiaries have been advised to approach them with formalised business entities. We call upon the Graduates to adopt commerce and be vanguards of the Ruling Party as it were back in the day, only more economically than petty politics now,” said Cde Mandebvu.
Cde Mandebvu applauded Government’s reintroduction of the NYS training programme, saying it would assist in the battle against undevoted human resource in the Civil Service and Corruption as they stem from self-centred survivalist tactics.
The NYS training drills into the trainee a deeper love for one’s nation, teamwork, synchronism and respect of each other and authority.
Notable figures who are products of the National Youth Service include prominent Masvingo Businessman Cde Dunira who was also elected into the ZNYSGA National Executive, and former ZANUPF National Youth Affairs Secretary Cde Tendai Chirau who is now ZANUPF National Deputy Secretary for Security in the Politburo.
Recent Comments