Statement by NYDT on International Peace Day

NYDT joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Day of peace under the theme Sustainable Peace For A Sustainable Future. As Zimbabwe commemorates this day, there is need to reflect on the peace initiatives that have been put in place and the changes these have brought to Zimbabweans, especially young people.    

To date, Zimbabwe is yet to have a concrete legal framework that supports and legalises any peace building initiatives. The Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI) is currently operating without a specific mandate, disjointedly and in fear of victimization by law enforcement agents. As such, this has stifled its ability and potential to address past and present conflict related issues.      

Young people, particularly from Matabeleland continue to bear the brunt of the mass killings of their parents, guardians, family and community members in the 1980s. Coupled with this, some have been battling with trauma as a result of bloody electoral periods since 2000. As talk of a general election in 2013 intensifies, cases of political violence are beginning to emerge as has been the trend since independence. The most affected as the main perpetrators and victims of such violence are young people. 

It is against this background that as we celebrate world day of peace, the NYDT calls upon the government of Zimbabwe, politicians, civic society and youths to show recognition of the importance of building sustainable peace in Zimbabwe by:

Setting up a commission that will be the main body responsible for uncovering past injustices and providing platforms for both victims and perpetrators to tell the truth about their past experiences. This is based on the belief that a spirit of nation building in Zimbabwe cannot be achieved without a commonly acknowledged history and honest means of facing and dealing with the human rights violations that have dogged the nation since independence. 

Finalising the legal framework for peace building national roadmap that clearly states the mandate of the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration (ONHRI) so that it achieves its mandate of building sustainable peace in Zimbabwe.

Cessation of abuse of young people by political players and using them as pawns of perpetrating violence against their fellow citizens. Instead, political parties should partner with peace-building and conflict management actors and institutions in spreading the message of peace and tolerance amongst young people from various political backgrounds.  

Putting an end to the structural violence that continues to haunt Zimbabweans in some regions of the country; bearing in mind that the effects are more dire for young men and women. The draft constitution remains an opportunity to address such and other injustices by the constitutionalisation of devolution of fiscal, political and administrative power. This would guard against marginalisation while making provisions for social and cultural harmony.   

Police bar NYDT training workshops

Police have denied National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) clearance to conduct trainings in Lupane citing an excuse that the life skills training clashes with another meeting in the same venue. Quite interestingly in all this case is the fact that NYDT had already secured the same venue for the life skills training which the police officers claim it was reserved for another meeting. It is from this basis therefore that the reason forwarded by the police officers fails to gain subsistence. 

The organisation had planned to conduct two different training workshops for four days from September 11, 2012, starting with a two day life skills training followed by a Leadership and capacity development training. The life skills training workshop is aimed at improving young people’s  understanding of gender, reproductive health and HIV/AIDS while ensuring that they make use of the acquired knowledge in decision-making, interpersonal communication and planning for their lives. It largely involves gender mainstreaming, HIV/AIDS and career guidance. The life skills training also focuses on ensuring that the youths are aware of and do get tested for HIV and AIDS. Similar life skills trainings have been conducted in Nkayi and Bulawayo with specific partnership with the local health practitioners.

The capacity development training on the other hand aims at equipping the youths with leadership skills and encourages them to able to engage with duty bearers in and outside their communities thereby increasing their meaningful participation in decision making structures. The broader aim of such capacity development trainings is meant to ensure that young people share on leadership related issues and promote the ideal of assuming leadership in their respective communities so that they can be significant contributors to development.   

Observations that have been made indicate that space for civic activity has been shrinking in Lupane as the district continues to face strong protection from security agents. In total the work of other civic society organisations has been made difficult. In March this year Lupane police arrested the NYDT Senior Programs officer for conducting a life skills training workshop in the area. The police had initially denied the organisation clearance for the workshop but were forced to let it proceed by a High Court order interdict obtained through the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). However they went on to disrupt the workshop saying they did not recognise the High Court clearance. Ironic enough despite such a disturbance, the police officers failed to provide process the necessary documentation leading to the arrest.

More recently, the same police in Lupane arrested three NYDT officers for allegedly conducting unlawful meetings. This happened regardless of the fact that the consultative meetings they were conduction did not require police clearance as they involved only four people and they we meant specifically for the councillors

Currently the organisation has challenged the police response to the notification by seeking intervention from the Magistrate’s court. However, the threat of harassment and arrest of its officers remains valid as has happened in the recent past.  

Zimbabwe Youth Council out of touch with reality of Matabeleland Youths

Youths in the Matabeleland regions have expressed outrage at what they call “careless” utterances by a Zimbabwe Youth Council official that youths in the three regions of Matabeleland are failing to submit bankable business plans or simply shunning the Youth Fund scheme. These sentiments made by Miss Yolanda Washaya and published in the Chronicle of 03 September 2012 have been viewed as nothing less than careless, unfounded stereotypic views that have been used repeatedly by state officials in the media to trivialise the concerns of the region and keep its citizens from benefitting fully from national programs.

Firstly the official claims that youths in Matabeleland have failed to produce bankable business proposals. The question is what is a bankable business proposal? The idea that what sells and makes good business sense in the capital Harare where the decisions are made will sell in Binga, Beitbridge and even Nkayi shows just how out of touch the official is with reality. Both the ZYC and the ministry have failed to hold consultative meetings with young people to gather views on what businesses are viable and would need funding in their regions. It also failed to orient young people into the requirements and needs of how to apply for the fund or write a business proposal and expects to be taken seriously as a voice of young people? Obviously, many young people, a large number with just O`levels and others with non business related degrees will need assistance one way or the other with how to write and apply a business project proposal.

Marginalisation a major source of conflict in Gwanda

Young people who are active in various political party structures have lamented marginalisation on grounds of ethnicity as a root cause of conflict in Gwanda district.   

Speaking during a political parties forum held in Gwanda, the youths said that lack of education opportunities as evidenced by the low number of schools in their district, high unemployment and unfair distribution of local and national resources were all a result of the marginalisation.  

“As a party we believe that young people should have equal access to opportunities. However the administration and distribution of resources in this country does not reflect that equal access and that makes it a source of conflict particularly in Gwanda,” said MDC-T who added that while Gwanda is rich in minerals, those were not benefiting the area in any way.