Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s young people have proven that their voices can move mountains, influencing government to act on issues once thought untouchable, Parliamentary Youth Caucus Chairperson, Hon. Stanley Sakupwanya has said.
He said this at the 2026 Youth Inclusive Budget Consultative Conference in Harare on Friday. Sakupwanya said last year’s inaugural youth budget forum shattered doubts about whether the country’s youth could shape fiscal priorities.
The results, he noted, are now enshrined in the 2025 National Budget — from the fight against drugs to free sanitary wear for girls, and billions set aside for youth empowerment. He highlighted the battle against substance abuse as one of the most decisive victories.
He said government introduced the Drug and Substance Abuse Fund under Statutory Instrument 62 of 2025 banning lethal brews such as mukozodo, and pumped resources into rehabilitation centres and law enforcement to protect communities, partly as a result of calls from youths.
Another landmark gain, he added, was the inclusion of free sanitary wear in the national budget, after powerful advocacy from young women and girls. Sakupwanya hailed the move as a triumph for dignity, equality and justice. He outlined broader investments directed at empowering young entrepreneurs and strengthening rural economies.
“ZiG670 million was allocated to rural development projects, creating 35,000 village business units, 4,800 youth business units and 9,600 school business units. Empowerment banks were recapitalized, with “ZiG130 million channelled to the Women’s Micro Finance Bank, ZiG77.4 million to Empower Bank, and ZiG108 million to the National Venture Capital Company to fund start-ups and MSMEs,” he said.
He added that skills development also featured prominently, with ZiG447.1 million earmarked to train 160,000 youth entrepreneurs and ZiG113.9 million to refurbish vocational training centres. Sakupwanya said social protection was not left behind, with BEAM allocated ZiG4 billion to support vulnerable learners and ZiG46.6 billion directed to education infrastructure upgrades.
While celebrating these gains, he warned that the youth must also embrace oversight. “Oversight is not only the work of Members of Parliament. It is also the duty of citizens, especially the youth, because it is your future that is being shaped,” he said.
New Ziana
