IN a significant stride to strengthen the partnership between the government and the young generation, hundreds of youths gathered in Harare on Friday for a two-day 2026 inclusive budget consultation workshop.
This event, the second edition following last year’s inaugural meeting, was mandated by Section 20 of the Constitution, which supports youth representation at all government levels.
Youths from all provinces attended the workshop, themed “Empowering the Young Drivers of Economic Growth and Transformation for Sustainable Development to Deliver Vision 2030.”
Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the conference, Stanley Sakupwanya, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Youth Caucus, emphasized the importance of synergy between youths and the government in shaping the 2026 budget consultations.
He highlighted key areas of focus, including financial support for building rehabilitation centers to curb drug abuse, and empowering the girl child.
“We expect our young people to drive the conversation on drug and substance abuse, which has become a pressing concern for the nation,” Sakupwanya said. “Additionally, we’ll be pushing for more support for the girl child, particularly in terms of sanitary wear, which we addressed in the last budget.”
Berlinda Dube, Operations Manager at the Zimbabwe Institute, praised the increased turnout of youths at this year’s consultations.
“We’re thrilled to see over 2,000 young people applying to participate this year, compared to around 500 last year,” she said. “This shows that young people are taking ownership of their future and are eager to contribute to the budgeting process.”
The decision to include youths in the 2026 Budget Consultations is a welcome move, considering that young people make up approximately 70% of Zimbabwe’s population. The engagement will also ensure that young people’s needs and aspirations are reflected in the country’s economic framework.
