Youth Political Participation

THE YOUTH MODEL PARLIAMENT 2025

The Zimbabwe Institute in conjunction with the Parliament of Zimbabwe through the Parliamentary Youth Caucus and the Zimbabwe Youth Council, launched the inaugural Youth Model Parliament under the banner “Dare re Vadiki/Inkundla ya Batsha.” The event took place from the 27th to the 30th of March 2025 at the new Parliament Building in Mt Hampden. The event brought together 270 young people from across Zimbabwe.

The Speaker of Parliament Hon. Advocate J.F.N. Mudenda delivered the Keynote Address to the youth. In his Address, Hon. Mudenda challenged young people to take up responsibility and take up the space created Parliament through the Youth Model Parliament which gives them a window into the future. He implored young people to aspire for leadership and work towards these goals and importantly, he underscored the need for young people to work together across political party divides and in a non-violent manner.

The Minister of Youth, Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Hon. T. Machakaire, the Ambassador of Ireland H.E Austin Gormely, a representative from the Embassy of Switzerland Mr. E. Mugore and Norway Mr Sondre Erickson, the Director of Zimbabwe Institute Mr I. Maposa, the Country Representative for UNFPA, and the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Youth Caucus Hon. Sakupwanya also gave remarks where they congratulated the Parliament of Zimbabwe and its partners for hosting the inaugural Youth Model Parliament which is a new era for youth political participation in Zimbabwe. The speakers reiterated the timeliness of the Youth Model Parliament in providing space for young people to build capacity and to flourish in various spheres of life.

Ambassador Bromley giving his address.jpg

H.E Ambassador Austin Gormely, addressing the YMP

The Speaker of Parliament, Hon Advocate J.F.N. Mudenda giving his keynote address.

Participants to the Youth Model Parliament 2025

A total of 270 Youth Model Parliament delegates attended, with 30 Youth Members of Parliament who took roles which included being rotatinal Speakers, Chairperson of Commitees, 25 Youth Desk Officers from government ministries on standby to answer questions and taking note of issues raised by Youth Model Parliamentarians.

Youth Model Parliament - Key achievements

The launch of the Youth Model Parliament was a milestone for Zimbabwe. It comes at a time when young people are exploring avenues of enhancing youth political participation. The Youth Model Parliament presented an opportunity to mobilise young people from across the country to be part of conversations that captured the voices and views of youth around pressing political, economic and social issues. Whereas the platform provided training of young people in leadership skills and critical thinking, the Youth Model Parliament also strengthened youth agency and served as an inspiration for young people to become members of Parliament and be part of a legislative process that determines their future. This was particularly evident in the simulation of the parliamentary procedures in which young people articulated motions and engaged in active debates raising pertinent issues facing young people. The main motions raised by the youth included:

Youth unemployment and its relatedness to drug and alcohol abuse.
Youth access to technology and the need for digitalisation.
Youth inclusion / youth qouta in local government.

The Youth Model Parliament, (YMP), presented an opportunity for the first time, to bring together diverse groups of young people from the country’s ten provinces to Parliamentary processes and procedures and helped to strengthen youth agency. In addition to the capacity building and increasing participation of young people in political processes, the YMP also contributed towards building consensus amongst the youth to work together with non-partisan attitude to push for youth empowerment whilst addressing critical challenges which young people are facing today, contributing to national development in an environment characterised by tolerance. This resonated well with the Keynote and call to action given by the Hon. Speaker! The Youth Model Parliament did not only simulate Parliamentary processes and procedures but also the future of Zimbabwe as a young generation was groomed to become leaders in political processes which are inclusive, non-partisan and participatory, entrenching the very essence of democracy.

Where to next?

ZI working with its partners, the Parliamentary Youth Caucus and the Zimbabwe Youth Council, will further this process by reviewing and refining the motions presented by young people so that these can be presented by members of the Parliamentary Youth Caucus in the House, a true demonstration of representation of voices of young people in decision making processes.
Selected Model Parliamentarians from the YMP will be taken through capacity building and leadership training through the leadership school and mentorship circles.
As per the recommendations of young people and partners, the Youth Model Parliament will be an annual event.

The Youth Model Parliament in the digital space

The following are some of the links of coverage for the YMP activity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxVklQf29Kw

https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/parliament-parliament/mudenda-launches-model-youth-parliament/

https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/youth-model-parliament-launched-to-nurture-future-leaders/

https://www.herald.co.zw/advocate-mudenda-launches-model-youth-parliament/

https://www.herald.co.zw/youths-urged-to-claim-space-in-governance/

https://www.heraldonline.co.zw/advocate-mudenda-launches-model-youth-parliament/

Extracts from the National Assembly Hansard 01 April 2025 vol. 51 no. 39 on the Model youth Parliament