Zimbabwe’s National Youth Service (NYS) certificate, historically associated with the controversial Border Gezi Youth Militia, also known as the “Green Bombers”, remains a key gateway for young people seeking employment, according to Minister of Youth Empowerment, Tino Machakaire.
Machakaire, who is also Wedza South MP, warned that university and college graduates without a National Youth Service certificate may face difficulties securing jobs in both the public and private sectors. Machakaire said:
“We cannot have people out there who have done nothing and think they can be university graduates… You can go to university, but without a National Youth Service certificate, you may struggle to get a job, and I want to assure you that they will suffer.”
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Border Gezi Legacy and the National Youth Service Certificate
The NYS programme, originally launched under former President Robert Mugabe and popularised by Border Gezi, was designed to instil discipline, patriotism, and volunteerism. It was suspended for several years due to resource constraints but was relaunched in May 2024 by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, targeting 100,000 youth over five years.
Border Gezi National Youth Service Certificate: Your Gateway to Employment
According to Machakaire University graduates holding the Border Gezi Youth Service Certificate increase their chances for employment, are prioritised for access to Empower Bank loans, and entrepreneurial support. In 2025, over 1,000 NYS graduates were slated for absorption into government institutions and the security sector, signalling the certificate’s growing influence on career opportunities.
National Youth Day Celebrations
Thousands of young Zimbabweans are expected at Igava Training Centre in Marondera on 21 February to celebrate National Youth Day. The event will honour NYS graduates with displays highlighting their training, while a job fair will provide employment guidance and opportunities from government ministries, private companies, and development partners.
The NYS, shaped by the legacy of Border Gezi, continues to be a decisive factor for youth seeking work, reinforcing the government’s push for skills, patriotism, and career readiness across the country.
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