Zimpapers Logo

Whinsley Masara Chronicle Reporter
NATIONAL Youth Service (NYS) graduates in Matabeleland North have offered free labour services to paratastals that need extra hands. Matabeleland North National Youth Service Commander, Matthew Mleya, who is also Hwange Rural District Council chairperson, said the decision to volunteer at state firms was reached at a meeting held in Kamativi on Saturday.

“Considering the economic status of the country and the July three months’ notice job terminations which saw many rendered jobless, we felt it wise to assist where needed. National Youth Service graduates are going to offer their labour voluntarily to struggling parastatals. Companies like the National Railways of Zimbabwe, Cold Storage Company, CMED and many others are free to forward their requests and we are ready to offer free services,” said Mleya.

He said they want to help the government to revive the ailing economy, in line with Zim-Asset.

“Voluntary donation of our labour is not unique but part of the ethos of the National Service which also involves defending the gains of independence with our own blood. National Youth Service graduates will continue to preserve the legacy of their fore bearers,” said Mleya.

Recently, Youth Development, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister, Patrick Zhuwao, said the 80,000 graduates scattered around the country must have a hand in economic development.

He said in line with the economic empowerment strategy that the Ministry was finalising, the NYS would play a crucial role through programmes such as Youth Build Zimbabwe, Youth Feed Zimbabwe and Youth Secure Zimbabwe which would be implemented at community level as there are 80,000 graduates that are willing to contribute to their country.

“This is a huge amount of human capital that we should be taking advantage of. I’m going to coordinate your interactions with government because the solution to the Zimbabwean economy lies with us Zimbabweans. Foreigners will only come to assist us and they do that on our terms. We’re taking a strategic focus which centres on Zim-Asset and the 10-point plan and we looking at localising the 10-point plan so that it’s implemented at ward level and coordinated at the constituency level,” Zhuwao said.