By Patience Gondo
A visiting Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) official who spent two weeks in Beitbridge teaching youths is concerned over growing laziness and dependency, saying the trend is driving unemployment, drug abuse and moral decline.
Addressing youths during the Global Youth Day commemorations held on March 22 under the theme Communion in Action, SDA Shepherdess Mrs Gwedede said many young people no longer value hard work, resulting in increased numbers of unskilled and unemployed youths.
“If youths do not want to work, they must be prepared not to eat,” she said.
Gwedede also said some parents are contributing to the problem by providing for non productive grown children.
She said the culture of dependency is exposing young girls to exploitation, including engaging in relationships with older men for financial support.
She also linked drug and substance abuse to idleness, saying the patterns are worsening as some youths graduate to more dangerous forms of substance use citing injecting drugs through veins as an example.
The visiting speaker said the notion that there are no opportunities in the country is often used to justify laziness, urging youths to take initiative and utilise available opportunities.
She challenged young people to pursue practical skills and become self reliant rather than waiting for formal employment.
“There is work in communities farming, building, technical trades. Young people must use their hands and skills to create livelihoods,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, Beitbridge Chief VhoTshitaudze echoed similar concerns, saying a culture of entitlement among youths was undermining development.
“There is a worrying culture where young people want rights without responsibility. We must work for what we want and build our future through effort,” he said.
Chief Tshitaudze urged youths to embrace education that equips them with practical skills rather than focusing solely on employment.
“Education must equip you with skills to create opportunities, not just to look for jobs. Start businesses, venture into farming, carpentry, plumbing and other trades,” he said.
He said many youths are sitting on talents without utilising them, worsening poverty in communities.
On social issues, Chief Tshitaudze re-emphasised the need to curb teenage pregnancies and child marriages in Beitbridge.
Quoting 1 Thessalonians 4:3-4, he called for moral discipline and responsible behaviour among youths.
In a previous address, the chief expressed concern that Beitbridge was becoming known for high cases of child marriages and teenage pregnancies, urging communities to prioritise education and strong values.
Both speakers called for a shift towards hard work, discipline and skills development, in line with the Global Youth Day theme which encourages practical expressions of faith through action.