New Youth Ministry proposed 2024 budget allocation a drop in the ocean -Parly Committee

Harare (New Ziana)-The budget cap of ZW$130 billion (approximately US$7.41 million) which Treasury set for the Ministry of Youth in 2024 will not be adequate to meet its obligations, Parliament has said.

Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training chairperson Mutswashe Ziyambi said this while presenting the Ministry’s 2024 budget expectations.

Ziyambi said Treasury set aside a ZWL$130 billion expenditure ceiling against ZWL$ 1.6 trillion bids by the Ministry of Youth which is below its requirements.

“In respect of vocational training and skills development, the Ministry is focusing on training for enterprise, curriculum review and development and development of Course Outlines.

“The training is targeting 120 000 youths across the country. The budget bid for training amounts to ZWL$ 83.2 billion against an allocated Treasury ceiling of ZWL$ 11.6 billion, leaving a deficit of ZWL$71.6 billion.

“This key priority area if adequately funded, would go a long way in reducing idle youths in Zimbabwe. One of the reasons behind the need for curriculum review is that many youths feel that the current curriculum does not align with the requirements of today’s job market. By revising and updating the curriculum, vocational training centres can be more appealing and attractive to the youths,” he said.

He said in order to increase youth enrolment at vocational centres, the Ministry is focusing on refurbishing the existing infrastructure for skills training.

The budget bid for constructing the 8 vocational centres amounts to ZWL$78 billion against an allocated Treasury ceiling of ZWL$ 6 billion (US.

“Moreover, the outdated infrastructure in most vocational training centres fails to attract young individuals to enrol. Regrettably, the refurbishment, retooling, and upgrading of these centres have not been assigned a specific expenditure ceiling, despite the bid amounting to $73.9 billion. Consequently, there is a deficit of $73.9 billion earmarked for the essential retooling of the existing centres.

“It is imperative to acknowledge that solely allocating funds for the development of new curriculums, without addressing the pressing matter of retooling the centres, will not have any significant impact.

The budget bid for National Youth Service amounts to ZWL$124 billion against an allocated Treasury ceiling of ZWL$ 2 billion, translating to a deficit of ZWL$122 billion.

“There is a need for more adequate funding if the program is to be reintroduced this year,” Ziyambi said.

Anti-drugs campaigns were given a Treasury ceiling of ZWL$420 million, against a bid of ZWL$1.6 billion.

“Awareness campaigns play a crucial role in preventing individuals from contemplating drug abuse, as well as discouraging those already engaged in such behaviour,” said Ziyambi.

The budget bid for the Empower Bank amounts to ZWL$168 billion, while the allocated Treasury ceiling stands at ZWL$13 billion.

“Considering that Empower Bank is the primary funding institution for youth empowerment, the ZWL 13 billion expenditure ceiling against ZWL$168 billion bid seems to be far off. Additional funding should be allocated to facilitate Empower Bank’s decentralization efforts, revise its interest rates, improve its starter packs, and provide loans in the form of capital equipment.

“Taking for example, with the current allocation, each province receives approximately ZWL$1.3 billion, which needs to be divided among the targeted 8 000 youths. Consequently, each youth is left with a meagre amount of approximately ZWL$162 000. This amount is insufficient for any meaningful business ventures or endeavours,” said Ziyambi.

The budget bid for expansion and rebranding of the Zimbabwe Youth Council amounts to ZWL6 billion against an allocated Treasury ceiling of ZWL$1.4 billion.

New Ziana