Draft constitution allows youths to contest any election

Young people have expressed delight with the fact that the draft constitution has no age limits for those who wish to contest in elections, saying this grants them the opportunity to contest as candidates for council, parliamentary and presidential elections. This among other things, they argued would enhance their participation in community and national processes.

These sentiments were echoed at a Youth Meeting convened by the National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) in the Pumula North suburb of Bulawayo. The meeting was held to discuss the contents of the draft constitution which has found its way into the hands of the media, political parties and civic society despite the fact that it has not officially been released by the Zimbabwe Constitution Select Committee (COPAC). The draft constitution stipulates that everyone who is at the legal age of participating in elections is also eligible to be a candidate.

Youths most affected by de-industrialisation

The following article was submitted to NYDT by a young resident of Bulawayo. 

The closure of industries in Bulawayo has made youths resort to illicit deals as a way of generating income.

Such petty dealings and activities have degraded the values and the moral fibre of the society. As evidenced in cases where the youths have turned into prostitution and thievery with an aim of making ends meet. Such cases cannot be ignored especially by any serious nation that hopes to invest in the youths who constitute the majority of the population.

Owing to the various challenges in the industrial sector, levels of migration have increased owing to high levels of unemployment. A case in point is the high levels of illegal cross boarders in Beitbridge and Plumtree border posts. According to the news statistics, nearly 2000 people cross the border to South Africa whilst the same figure is noted on those that use official routes. Such statistics paint a gruesome picture on the international picture of Zimbabwe and shows an economy that has dismally failed to set out policies to effectively support its own people.

In the political scene de-industrialisation has further increased the susceptibility of the youths to be used as pawns to fulfil political gains. The reduced space of economic survival for youths has further ensured that they slowly depend on the mercy of political parties or political candidates. This scenario has left youths vulnerable to exploitation by the political structure, in some cases being forced to ferment violence and intimidate other political players and citizens.

 It is such cases that clearly show that the vibrancy and energy of the youths has not been fruitfully channelled towards economic growth, but rather, has been used for unorthodox practices. Therefore, far from viewing the aspect of de-industrialisation in the ethno centricism matra nor in the leftist state, the nation as a whole ought to view its ripple effects to the most populous constituency, the youths.  

Youths turned away for bringing Affidavits to register as voters

Youths from Bulawayo are deeply frustrated over the change in positions by the Registrar General when it comes to initial voter registration. This came to light after groups of Young people from Magwegwe and Nkulumane respectively went to the registrar’s office to register for the first time to become voters but were turned away for bringing affidavits.

“We went to the registrar’s office on Friday to register to become voters, we had everything that was required to get ourselves into the voters’ roll however things did not go as planned as we were told that affidavits were not required for the process but written letters. We were turned away for bringing affidavits which legally speaking are much better than a written letter,” said a concerned youth who chose to remain anonymous.

In a statement which appeared in The Zimbabwean in 2011, Tobaiwa Mudede, the Registrar General said,”one of the requirements needed for one to register as a voter are: A Sworn statement by employer of applicant confirming applicant's address and any other information or document sufficient to ascertain the applicant's residence. While rural dwellers would need a confirmation letter from the chief, headman or village head, farm owner or mine owner”. 

An Independent Commission is the Answer: Youths

Young people have called on the Inclusive Government to look into transforming the organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI), into an independent Truth, Justice and Reconciliation commission with quasi Judicial powers as this will enable it to fulfil its mandate which is enunciated in article VII of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

Young people, speaking during a District peace workshop in Gwanda said that ONHRI in its current state is nothing more than a tool to be used by political parties in the inclusive government to gain political mileage. It has failed to deliver tangible results to communities that have suffered from different phases of both state sponsored and politically motivated violence.