Definition of Youth
The 2013 national youth policy defines youth as persons between 15 and 35 years of age. This age range is stipulated in the new Constitution and is also in line with the continental definition of youth as defined in the African Youth Charter.
Marriageable Age
- Opposite Sex
- Same Sex
- Without parental consent
- with parental consent
- Male
- 18
- 16
- XX
Candidacy Age
- Lower House
- 21 Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union Partially elected by other means.
- Upper House
- 40
Source: Inter-Parliamentary Union
Partially elected by other means.
Criminal Responsibility
(2005)
Situation of Young People
Literacy Rates
- 89.96% Male (15-24) %
- 93.49% Female (15-24) %
- Year: 2015
- Source: UNESCO
Net Enrolment Rate
Secondary School- 36.74%Male %
- 34.06% Female %
- Year: 2003
- Source: UNESCO
Situation of Young People
Tobacco Use
Consumed any smokeless or smoking tobacco product at least once 30 days prior to the survey.- 14.90% Male (13-15) %
- 8.20% Female (13-15) %
- Year: 2010
- Source: WHO
Policy & Legislation
Comparing the two versions of the youth policy, there appears to be no major difference in the texts. In 2013 the definition of youth shifted from ages 10-30 to 15-35, in line with the 2013 Constitution. The revised version places more emphasis on mainstreaming youth throughout all ministries. It principle guidelines are derived from existing national and international frameworks, such as the African Youth Charter (AYC), the United Nations World Programme of Action for Youth (WPAY). Other youth legislation includes the Decent Work Country Programme for Zimbabwe (DWCP), launched in 2013 by the Ministry of Labour and Social Services and the Social Partners. It aims to combat the high levels of youth unemployment through initiatives such as the Skills for Youth Employment and Rural Development programme.
Public Institutions
(ministry, department or office) that is primarily responsible for youth?
- Vocational Skills training;
- Programming;
- National Youth Service.
Youth and Representation
Budget & Spending
- % of GDP
- % of gov. expenditure
Source: World Bank
Gaps indicate missing data from the original data source. (Accessed August 2013).
Additional Background
The political situation in Zimbabwe is extremely polarised. Youth organisations that are seemed to be connected with the opposition and working with democracy, governance, civil education, etc., are still seen as a threat to the ruling political party, and surveillance of youth organisations and control mechanisms have been set in place through legislation and regulations of existing laws to control the space for freedom of speech and assembly.A number of Zimbabwean CSOs have expressed concern over the government’s plans to revive the controversial National Youth Service (NYS), which they argue is marked by a militaristic and partisan attitude. The youth militias were active in some of the 2008 electoral violence. In their statement, CSOs highlight:
(...) the role, form and nature of the previous National Youth Service which played a destructive role of polarizing communities, carried out unspeakable acts of violence and the militarization of the youth sector. Concerned by the proposed reintroduction of the Programme without taking note of the impact of past similar initiative to assist the shaping of the rebranded National Youth Training Programme. The proposed programme deserves the input of youths and youth friendly stakeholders to determine its strategic direction so that it gets a vote of confidence from the society.CSOs and youth organisations engaged in the forum leading to the 2013 referendum on Zimbabwe’s new constitution highlighted the following points in an October 2012 statement:
[T]he draft has, generally, managed to capture youth issues in a progressive manner, but has gaps in that there is no representative body for the youth; The draft fails to institute representation of young women; the failure to mention youth in the bill of rights.With regards to the Stakeholders Conference, the youth resolved to push for access to the conference and participate with a developed position paper with minimum demands and clear benchmarks. The 2014 National Budget Statement reiterates the government’s focus on employment schemes:
The finalisation of the Youth Economic Empowerment Policy Framework remains a priority in championing participation of youths in income generating projects across all sectors of the economy. Mainstreaming the empowerment agenda, during the implementation of the Policy will be within the context of the SMEs development strategy.