HARARE — CCC Norton MP Richard Tsvangirai has pushed for greater inclusion of young people in local government, proposing a 10% quota for youths in councils as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe moves to make formal banking cheaper.

Tsvangirai moved an amendment to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment Bill No. 3 seeking to reserve 10% of ward-based local council positions for youths aged between 18 and 35.

He proposed amending Section 277 of the Constitution, which governs elections to local authorities, to introduce youth representation through proportional representation.

The proposal sought to build on the existing 30% quota for women in local councils by creating a similar constitutional mechanism for young people.

In setting out the proposed changes, Tsvangirai specifically called for Parliament to provide for the proportional representation of both women and youths in local authorities.

His amendment stated:

“(4) An Act of Parliament may provide for the election, by a system of proportional representation referred to in subsection 5, at least—

(a) thirty per centum of the total members of the local council elected on a ward basis as women;

(b) ten per centum of total members of the local council elected on a ward basis shall be youth aged eighteen to thirty-five.”

The amendment was put and agreed to.

Tsvangirai’s proposal would extend the principle of affirmative representation to the level of government closest to communities, where councils are responsible for services including roads, refuse collection, housing and water.

Zimbabwe already has a youth quota in the National Assembly, with 10 seats reserved for young people aged 21 to 35 through proportional representation.

Tsvangirai’s proposal sought to give young people a defined route into local government rather than leaving their representation dependent solely on conventional ward elections.

It was subsequently incorporated into the constitutional amendment process and became part of Constitution Amendment No. 3 of 2026.

His push for greater representation came as Parliament debated wider constitutional changes covering the country’s electoral and governance arrangements.

Tsvangirai’s intervention was focused on political inclusion, but a similar theme emerged in the financial sector as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe moved to reduce the cost of accessing banking services.

The RBZ’s 2026 Monetary Policy Statement directed banks and deposit-taking microfinance institutions to reduce several charges by March 31, 2026.

Among the measures was a reduction in cash withdrawal charges for transactions in both US dollars and ZiG.

The RBZ set a ceiling on cash withdrawal charges, directing financial institutions to:

“Reduce cash withdrawal charges for both banking halls and Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) to a maximum of 2% of the withdrawn amount for US$ and ZiG cash withdrawals.”

It also targeted charges imposed when customers use point-of-sale machines.

Those charges were capped at 1.5% of the transaction amount, with a maximum fee of US$20 or its ZiG equivalent, while banks were prohibited from imposing a minimum fee.

The statement said:

“Reduce the Point of Sale (POS) charges to a maximum of 1.5% of the transaction amount for both local and international cards, capped at US$20 or the ZiG equivalent.”

The central bank also sought to eliminate charges for checking account balances, including through mobile banking platforms.

Banks were therefore instructed to “remove account balance inquiry charges on all banking and mobile banking platforms for both ZiG and US$.”

Cash deposits were also targeted as part of the drive to reduce the cost of using formal financial services.

The RBZ ordered banks to “remove fees on cash deposits for both ZiG and US$.”

Banks were also directed to ensure that charges for issuing new bank cards and replacing existing cards did not exceed cost-recovery levels.

The central bank encouraged banks to introduce incentives such as fee waivers for customers who maintain minimum balances.

The RBZ said the measures were intended to deepen financial intermediation, expand the depositor base and minimise charges faced by customers.

Banks were required to implement the revised charges by March 31, 2026.

Tsvangirai’s amendment, meanwhile, was part of Parliament’s broader debate on proposed changes to the Constitution governing elections and local authorities.

His proposal sought to reserve 10% of ward-based council seats for youths aged 18 to 35 through proportional representation.