‘Poverty, disasters forcing youths into prostitution, violent behaviours’

via ‘Poverty, disasters forcing youths into prostitution, violent behaviours’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe October 26, 2014

POVERTY and natural disasters have forced youths in the region to migrate to the urban areas where they engage in prostitution and violent behaviours, threatening peace and security, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

In his keynote address to the five day Sadc conference for ministers responsible for youth which ended yesterday in Victoria Falls, Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment minister Francis Nhema said the high levels of HIV and Aids had worsened the already dire situation of youths with millions of them being infected, affected and growing up as orphans.

“On a positive note, we know that this huge ‘young population’ is the region’s greatest under-tapped asset, with adequate education and skills,
health care, empowerment and opportunities to participate in national and regional affairs,” Nhema said.

“With access to income, they can become a huge pool of local consumers that can spur economic growth. With adequate grooming and a conducive environment, they can become innovators, responsible citizens and leaders.”

The conference was being held under the theme Youth Empowerment and Participation for Sustainable Development.

The minister called upon Sadc member states to prioritise youth in development programmes for the region’s socio-economic growth.

“Large numbers of empowered young people who participate in socio-economic and political affairs are likely to be responsible, patriotic and reproductive workers, entrepreneurs, self-reliant citizens and a market for local goods that can spur the region’s socio-economic growth and development, thus translating into a demographic dividend or bonus,” Nhema said.

“In this regard, I urge member states to create enabling conditions and opportunities for the young to take advantage of and benefit from the rich resources within the region as a way of bettering their lives and achieving sustainable development for the region.”

Youths constitute a huge chunk of the Zimbabwean population.

However, there are no employment opportunities to cater for them, leading to immoral behaviour such as drug abuse and prostitution.