HARARE - Youths organisations in the country have raised concern over the involvement of the infamous Border Gezi youths in the allocation of loans from the Ministry of Youths and Economic Empowerment.The Border Gezi youths, popularly called the Green Bombers, have been inducted in the Ministry of Youths as Youth Officers who are mandated with approval powers.
A coalition of youth organisations, Platform for Youth Development (PYD),said that the mere involvement of the militia in the process was chilling and defeated the whole process of empowering youths in the country as only youths from Zanu (PF) were likely to get the loans.
“A requirement to get approval from this group is problematic. A speculation to suggest that these controversial youths are being recognized and rewarded in preparation for a violent 2011 election campaign is not easy to challenge,” said PDY in a statement.
The Deputy Minister of Youths, Tongai Mathuthu, said that the youth officers would have limited powers.
“We have experienced some problems in areas like Mazowe Central and we have intervened. However, most parts of the country are fine and people are making submissions. We would like to make sure that youths who have not benefited from the scheme before are going to get the loans,” said Mathuthu.
In his budget the Minister of Finance Tendai Biti allocated funds to the youth’s ministry for projects. Each province, according to Mathuthu, will get US$40 000.
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