Another hurdle for Zim graduates: NYS certificate now a new job requirement

​A new challenge has befallen the job seeking graduates of Zimbabwe, after the Youth Minister Tino Machakaire made an announcement that the National Youth Service (NYS) certificate will now be a requirement for graduates to be eligible to apply for jobs.

This comes at a time when many graduates in the country are unemployed or underemployed. According to the statistics, thirty to forty-five thousand graduates enter the market annually, but fewer than 20 percent find jobs in the formal sector. 

Minister Machaike stated the drive behind this big change:

“As Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, my mandate is to advance the empowerment and holistic development of our young people through diverse programs and initiatives.However , true empowerment and development cannot exist without a strong foundation. A young person cannot be fully developed if they are not firmly grounded in their identity, values and history. When we understand where we come from, we are better equipped to define where we are going,” Minister said.

The NYS program has been revived by President Emmerson Mnangagwa after it was launched by former President Robert Mugabe in 


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