National
Youth Development Trust held a youth Convention on the 23rd of June
2012. One of the key outputs from the Youth Convention were the non-negotiable
benchmarks that ought to be factored in the draft constitution.
The
current draft constitution has managed to factor critical issues raised by the
youths during the Youth Convention these issues are:
·
Broad based bill of
rights that safeguards the right to education, shelter, health and life.
·
Establishment of the
Independent Commissions. The commissions that have since been proposed in the
draft constitution include the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zimbabwe Human
Rights Commission, Zimbabwe Gender Commission, National Peace and
Reconciliation Commission and the Anti- Corruption Commission.
·
A clear recognition of
16 official languages in Zimbabwe.
·
The inclusion of the
citizenship clause that ensures that youths are registered under the Zimbabwean
law
However,
the Draft Constitution as per the expectations of the youth did not recognise:
1.
The establishment of an
Independent National Youth Commission to support youth economic and social
developments programmes.
2.
A shift in the majority
age from 18 to 16 years and the call for young people in that age to be allowed
to vote and be voted for political office. The law recognises that at 16 anyone
can choose a life partner if that is so why not be allowed to make a decision
about voting.
3.
The total inclusion of
devolution of power as a part of the governance architecture. Currently the
draft contains a watered down version of devolution which is not clear on
fiscal devolutions and has no provisions for the direct election of provincial governors
into office.
NYDT
will continue engaging with other stakeholders to ensure that the youth
convention resolutions at the convention are factored into the 2nd
draft before it goes for a referendum.
OK..
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