Mako Jerera
Newly appointed Zimbabwe Youth Council board Chairperson Mrs Chiedza Juru has promised to turn around the way the organisation is managed.
Juru, who is a chartered accountant by profession, was recently appointed by Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Minister Kirsty Coventry with a mandate to make sure the organisation speaks to the national aspiration, Vision 2030.
The ZYC is an interface between the Government and the youth of Zimbabwe the terms of Section 3A (1) of the ZYC Act.
It had been operating without a board since 2015.
In a recent interview with Sunday Mail, Juru said they will be taking a devolved approach to ensure that young people in different cities and provinces will benefit from the organisation.
“Since the ZYC has not had a board since 2015, hence the appointment of a board not only brings in a governance structure, but also different skill-sets of board members that will enhance the ZYC’s effectiveness and visibility,” said Mrs Juru.
The board is there to coordinate, supervise and foster the activities of national associations and clubs, ensure the proper administration of national associations and clubs, to participate in national and international youth activities.
ZYC has been criticised for lack of visibility and not connecting with the youth, a challenge Juru said they are working on as part of their short term goals.
She said ZYC is in the process of developing communication strategies that will harness both traditional and new media channels in order to increase youth engagement.
“The ZYC will harness digital media platforms such as social media, digital magazines and brochures to engage with youths. In addition, a decentralised structure has been approved.
This will ensure that ZYC branches offer representation into all the provinces and young people can have access to and engage with ZYC from their provinces,” said Juru.
ZYC board is working on establishing a finance and audit committee to oversee all the financial activities of the institution as a way of dodging allegations of financial impropriety in the past and working with development partners such as UNICEF and UNFPA, as well as the Auditor-General to regularly audit the ZYC.
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