10 of 16 Stories on Gender based Violence

The first five years of my marriage were like heaven for me and my high school sweetheart. He would pamper me with gifts and really adored our three year old daughter. However, this was soon to come to an end.  

My husband suddenly fell in love with a younger woman. He did not hide the affection he had for her. The two love birds would spend hours talking to each other while l listened in silence. Their love took over our marriage when he would bring his girlfriend home for a sleep over. They would literally displace me from the bed that we bought together and spend the night in our matrimonial bed while I cried myself to sleep in the spare bedroom.  

Suddenly, he started throwing tantrums when l confronted him about the issue. He started clapping and punching me. At one point l remember he shoved my head inside the toilet chamber and said l did not need to drink any water since l had already taken water from the chamber. He started shoving his whole hand inside my private parts as punishment for questioning his authority.

As the situation worsened, l decided to seek legal help from a local women’s organisation who legally represented me in court. I finally managed to get a divorce from my husband. I have since adjusted and I am taking care of my daughter who is now six years old. He also has regular access to see our child but when l look at him, l reminisce on the horrible way he treated me. Never in my life did l think l would survive such a situation. I am a liberated young woman who after going through such a traumatic experience managed to pull herself up. I therefore encourage young women to face their different situations with bravery as there is always a way out.  

9 of 16 Stories on Gender Based Violence

I got married at the tender age of 19 and have known no peace in my marriage. Three children down the line abuse is still very much prevalent in my marriage but like every other woman ‘ngihlalele abantwabami’.  

One night whilst we were sleeping, my husband came home at around 2 am in the morning as drunk as a skunk. He smelt like the inside of an Ingwebu tank. He started hailing insults from the moment he entered the gate waking up our neighbours who live just a handshake away from our house. I woke up and opened the door for him fearing he would wake up the whole of Gwabalanda.

Before I could fully open the door he had shoved it aside and greeted me with insults. He told me about how Sheila would have made a better wife to him than I ever could be, he said that I should leave him and open up space for others who would warm his bed better than I could. I was not in a position to respond to him in this state. I retreated back to my bedroom where my youngest was fast asleep oblivious to the noise her father was making.

An hour seemed to pass, his soliloquy was never ending. Little did I know I was going to pay for my silence.

My husband got into our bedroom, which was supposed to be our love nest but had fast turned into a boxing ring after the birth of our first born. In the depth of my sleep I heard shuffling behind the wardrobe. The wardrobe was the place where he stored his tools for beating me up. He had a knobkerrie, a djembe and an axe. I was jolted by a slap on my face. He was looking at me with blood red eyes questioning me about why I was not responding to him. He slapped me the second time. I could not wait to see what else he had in store for me because history had taught me that once he starts he would go on and the nature of assault would increase as he would move from slap to knobkerrie and eventually to axe.

8 of 16 Stories on Gender Based Violence

Woes of a student Intern 

I was in my third year at university when I had my first real encounter on Gender based violence, during industrial attachment. I had always heard the stories about how student on attachment are viewed as nobodies in the workplace and was psychologically prepared for it. What I was not prepared for was that they were viewed as nobodies when it comes to work, but somebodies when it comes to satisfying some people’s personal desires.

Each time I would write an article it would be discarded as rubbish to the extent that I became convinced I had applied for the wrong program at varsity, until one of the sisters in the newsroom told me to be patient because it had nothing to do with my performance. It had also happened to her when she was new, and she had discovered that the ‘boss’ was simply trying to get her attention. Her sentiments proved to be true when he finally made his intentions known. He pulled the ‘I can make life very comfortable for you’ card on me and even promised to give me a distinction for my attachment year.

For a long time I was caught between a rock and a hard surface because repeating attachment was not an option for me, and neither was indulging with this old, sick man who was trying to use my vulnerability to his advantage, so I confided in my ‘sister’ in the newsroom, who fought the battle on my behalf, of course at the expense of her job because after that the boss made sure to give her hell. She even threatened to report him if he made me fail attachment. Well needless to say I did not fail but I did not pass with a distinction either. I am grateful for her because I honestly cannot imagine how I would have dealt with this issue on my own. Which is why I would really want to encourage other young women facing similar challenges to talk about them with other people. Believe me a problem shared is a problem solved. 

7 of 16 Stories on Gender Based Violence

Violence begets violence

I was tired of being the punching bag all the time, so one day I decided to return the favour. On that fateful day my husband came home at 2 am, drunk as usual, demanding food and making noise about how I didn’t deserve to be in his house and how much of a favour he had done by marrying me. I had heard those words everyday for the past 2 years and had decided I had heard enough of it.

Unlike the other days, there was no food waiting for him, so he started his usual boxing game, but unfortunately he did not receive the response he had expected. I picked up a pot that I had strategically placed on the kitchen table and returned the favour. Because he was too drunk to balance his own body, I was at an advantage. I beat him up so hard and even picked up the bottle of beer he had in his hand to help me finish the job. Our neighbours interrupted as usual, only to find him bleeding profusely from his head. The man next door took him to the hospital while his wife remained home with me trying to calm me down.

She told me she understood why I was so angry but beating him was not the way to solve issues as it would only bring more violence to our home. Honestly at that point I was already regretting my actions, but I had kept so much rage bottled up and it was obviously bound to explode one day.

For two years I had lived with a man who hurt me physically and emotionally as he continuously belittled me. He never left any money to buy food at home but expected to find food on the table everyday he came home from work, knowing very well he had made me stop working.

When he came back the next morning, he had changed his attitude and was starting to preach about how fighting is not good and how we are meant to live peacefully together. Whether the incidence helped him see the light and reform, I don’t know. I didn’t stick around long enough to find out. Each time I looked at him I got filled with so much anger, so I decided to leave.     

6 of 16 Stories on Gender Based Violence

By Sara Ndlovu (Not her real name)

Being a student on attachment is one of the hardest things in life because there is always that one person that will try to take advantage of you. Usually that person is the immediate boss, who knows that you need him to give you a good mark and will make sure they ask even the impossible of you.

I did a few months of my attachment at a local authority in a small town in Matabeleland North. Like I said it turned out to be a few months instead of a year because of the ‘boss’ syndrome I mentioned earlier. My boss and I had a good working relationship and he always commended my efficiency in getting this done. However all this changed when we went for a work related trip out of town and he became a little too friendly for comfort. Being the outspoken, independent mind that I was, I did not hesitate to tell him I did not like where he was going and I was not going to roll over and let him do as he pleased because he was my boss.  

Upon returning to the office, his attitude completely changed and he stopped being the super boss that he had been before the trip. Then I discovered he had actually had a sexual relationship with all the interns that had been attached to his office and was well known for taking in beautiful, female interns only. I then realised that sticking around might actually cost me a whole year of my school and decided to phone my academic supervisor and request to be shifted to a different company. After a great deal of explaining why I wanted to change, I was finally allowed and the department got an alternative place for me.   

Sometimes some things can be solved easily if acted on in time. So to all the students, you need to stand your ground and refuse to let people take advantage of you because you are young and a student. I am sure if i had stayed the entire year he would have failed me and when trying to explain everything after a mark has been given would have been futile. So sometimes we need timeously act on our situations. 

5 of 16 Stories on Gender Based Violence

A NEWSROOM is a workplace often regarded as unfriendly to women and I can attest to this. women suffer abuse of different magnitudes which in most instances is perpetuated by a mere fact that ‘We live in a men’s world.’

Sometime in 2011, the company hosted a party at a local hotel to launch a new paper and all were invited – men and women. Among the men, there Editors, Branch executives and all managers who make up the list of ‘bosses’. Among the women were mostly student journalists, primarily because they made the majority of stuff for that paper and a few senior lady journalists who had just been there.

The launch went well as entertainment and booze kept everyone upbeat and wishing the program could just go on and on. However, while everyone went on about their boozing business, an editor (one) took advantage of the situation and became the gentleman who would fill one intern’s glass to the brim every time it appeared half empty.

The intern drank in the comfort of the editor’s company and after the launch, the two disappeared into what is suspected to be a place where the editor consummated the intern’s youthfulness, before they headed to Bulawayo Athletics Club (BAC) where the girl was eventually dumped at night without even being given money for transport. A distressed girl who had ignored arrangements made by the company to have everyone taken home because of the momentary sweet promises by the editor, was left alone to find her own way home which was somewhere in Emganwini.

Left without any option, the intern had to call her editor for assistance with transport and sadly, the editor could not help. It is not known how the intern finally got home but she never came back to the newsroom and as such she had to defer her program because she could not be assessed by the university.

Here is a girl whose education was disturbed by an irresponsible editor who could not control his lust. 

4 of 16 Stories on Gender based violence

By Nomzamo Dube (Not her Real Name)

My story is based on one simple notion; that when he stops loving you, leave him before he starts abusing you. I was already a mother of two when I met the guy who was willing to commit for the very first time.  I’m sure you all know it isn’t easy being a mother of two and still living at home but that’s a story for another day. Anyway, so when i met him he rocked my world and showed me the best love I could ever dream of; until we moved in together.

It didn’t even take 6 months after we’d moved in together, then the beating started. First it was over an empty box of milk in the fridge, which I still insist had been left by him, and then it moved to scrolling through my phone and being inquisitive about every number on my phone book. He would continuously beat me like a punching bag on one day and buy me chocolates and flowers the next to say he was sorry. The apology always came with a great degree of blame on my part.  For some reason I always forgave him.

A year later I fell pregnant and he made me quit my job so I could ‘look after myself and the baby’ better, without any hustles. He would provide for the both of us plus my two kids back home.  The beating stopped temporarily when our bundle of joy arrived to revive the love we had. I had made a decision to leave several times but changed my mind as soon as the thought came into my head. Who wanted to be a single mother of 3 living at home? A few months after our daughter was born, I discovered he was having an affair with our neighbour.

I decided to confront him about it and little did I know that by doing that I had invited the abuse all over again. He started beating me up every day from that day onwards until I decided I had had enough. One morning I gathered enough courage to pack my things and leave. I took my daughter to my mother and decided to look for another job. By the way, he never bothered to look for us but continued his relationship with his new found love. Every day I ask myself why I endured so much pain for so long thinking my family would be ashamed of me if I went back. So ladies please, when the love stops you better leave or else the next thing you’ll get is long sad, abusive days.       

Young Women In Peaceful March Against Gender Based Violence (GBV)

ABOUT two hundred young women from Bulawayo took to the streets in a peaceful march against gender based Violence on International Human Rights Day. The march was organised by the National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) to raise awareness on gender based violence and to encourage young women to speak out against all forms of violence against women. 

International Human Rights Day is celebrated on 10 December every year and is the last day of 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence. During the march, the young women were calling for everyone to join the fight against gender based violence as it is an issue that affects all citizens.

They carried placards with warning messages such as; violence against one is violence against all, advocacy messages like; Together We Can End Gender Based Violence, No Means No! as well as messages of encouragement which read; Your Silence Means He Has Won, Report Cases Of Gender Based Violence.  

The march started from the city hall to Presbyterian Church hall were the young women converged for solidarity messages from various civil society organisations. It also became a networking opportunity for the young women who interacted with various organisations that offer different forms of support to the young women with regards to their rights. The organisation shared their information materials with the young women.

Emthonjeni Women’s Forum, Radio Dialogue, Sexual Rights Centre (SRC), Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), Female Journalists Network, Sisters Clinic, Women’s Institute for Leadership Development (WILD), Young at Heart and Victory Siyanqoba Trust all gave solidarity messages at the event. The different organisations re-affirmed their commitment to the fight against gender based violence, whilst highlighting the different ways in which they can be of assistance to the young women with regard to various issues of concern.

Radio Dialogue and Female Journalists Network highlighted that their major concern was to amplify the voices of the marginalised through various forms of media. As such, the young women were urged to take advantage of the various forms of media accessible to them to voice their issues. Victory Siyanqoba, an arts organisation also highlighted that it helps bring out some of the unspoken issues through theatre, as a way of generating dialogue about those issues.   

WILD, SRC and BPRA on the other hand indicated that their organisations were concerned with lobby and advocacy on issues that affect men and women in their different spheres of operation and gender based violence was one of the issues of concern for them. They said they remain committed to working towards making sure all people enjoy their rights as human beings. Emthonjeni Women’s Forum, whose core business is to address issues of gender based violence highlighted that they offer support through free counselling services and legal advice. The Sisters Clinic offers free reproductive healthcare services to women and therefore encouraged young women not to be embarrassed by seeking medical attention for STIs or even issues of contraception.

The NYDT has been offering separate platforms for young women to deliberate on key issues of concern as a way of amplifying young women’s voice in community and national processes. Such a move followed the realisation that in mixed platforms, the male issues were dominating. 

3 of 16 Stories during 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence

The name Patience is not the real name of the survivor; it has been changed to protect her identity. Send your story of Survival to youthziminfo@gmail.com and help raise awareness as a way of fighting Gender Based Violence. 

Patience, aged 17, was trafficked from Masvingo, Zimbabwe to Zambia. In July 2010 Patience’s uncle (husband to her mother’s sister), approached her and suggested that she accompany him to Zambia for a holiday. The idea was for Patience to see if she would like to stay in Zambia permanently with her extended family, as her immediate family was struggling in Zimbabwe. Patience agreed to accompany her uncle to Zambia without the consent of her parents. She abandoned her studies and left for Zambia with her uncle. They boarded on a bus to the border and approximately five kilometres before the border, they disembarked and continued on foot, entering to Zambia through an illegal border crossing point. Once in Zambia, they made their way to the nearest town where they boarded another bus to Lusaka.

Patience does not remember exactly when they arrived in Lusaka, but thinks it may have been on the 14th of July 2010. Upon arrival at the place where they were going to stay, Patience realized that something was wrong. She had been told that she would have her own apartment and they would stay in a building owned by one of her uncle’s friends; instead her uncle rented a room near the bus stop. When Patience asked where she would sleep, her uncle responded that she was now his wife and she would sleep with him. Patience refused and told him that he was married to her aunt and thus it was not acceptable. Her uncle became very abusive an assaulted her both physically and sexually. These assaults continued over a period of two months throughout which Patience was locked in a room. Patience was gravely injured and had one of her ribs broken. At the beginning of September, her uncle left her after realizing that she was pregnant. Patience never saw him again since. After he left, she managed to get away from the building (she was scared as the people there were very abusive) and went to the Zambian police. The police contacted IOM offices in Lusaka and Harare and Patience was put in a temporary shelter where she receives assistance. Currently IOM is facilitating the processing of her emergency travel documents for her to be repatriated back to Zimbabwe.

2 of 16 Stories during 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence

The Following article has been published as originally written, no editing has been done. A pseudonym, chosen by the writer has been used to protect her identity. However all details below narrate the real experiences of the writer. This Article was first published by Women’s Media For Development Foundation.   

By Thuli Tholo

‘I cannot sit at table with a mere student. I have 12 years experience in the media and I refuse to sit down with these students at a workshop. What can they tell me?

It has been a good thirteen years since those words were said to me by my then editor. I was fresh from college, very excited and ready to make a name for myself in the journalism fraternity but alas I was mistaken, a mere student cannot go for workshops let alone a female one. When those words were said to me, the first thing that came into my mind was, I had chosen the wrong profession. How can I be refused to go to a workshop just because I was a student on attachment? A lot was said by my Editor during my tenure as a student on attachment, however, no matter how damaging the words were I pushed on. Some of my colleagues changed from media to PR and marketing because of the abuse and discrimination they felt under the so called seasoned journalists. I remember one time I had to rewrite a story 20 times because I had done it badly. Instead of knocking off at 1700hrs together with other colleagues, I left the newsroom at 2200hrs.

By the way, I did not attend the workshop, which was at Masiyephambili Camp, neither did my Editor because other students on attachment from other media houses besides mine were attending.

I looked up for the definition of gender based violence and I came up with this definition: Gender-based violence (GBV) is a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination. It is defined as violence that is directed against a person on the basis of gender. Gender-based violence reflects and reinforces inequalities between men and women. I would like to go a step further and say in the media fraternity female journalists especially students and those fresh from college also face some form of discrimination from the older female journalists.  I have seen male students gliding through the newsroom without any problems where as the female students always have problems.

When I look at the definition of gender based violence and the way I was treated thirteen years ago, it dawns on me that I was a victim of gender based violence. I was discriminated against because I was just a mere student and a female. I can go on and on about my experience during my first year as a student on attachment that all point out to some form of discrimination. As a student on attachment there were other male students on attachment, however they were not treated the same way I was treated. I remember I was given all the ‘soft’ diaries, meaning I would do stories on the model of the week, the couple of the week, all the ‘simple stuff, however my other colleagues were assigned to do the hard news beats. Most female journalists tend to move over to the corporate and NGO world after they graduate because the experience they get in the newsroom is a nightmare. I stayed on for a few years and also left for the NGO world later.

Discrimination is still discrimination, no matter who, when, where and why they are doing it. I had the privilege of being an Editor for an in-house publication. I remember when I first got the job there was a lot of noise, most people said it openly that they would have preferred a man to handle that kind of a job. The bickering and the noise of those people only made me want to prove them I was the best candidate for the job. Prove them wrong I did, my publication became one of the best sources of information in Matabeleland. It was not all rosy at this organisation, at some point a male had to be put in charge, meaning I had to report to this so called manager, who had no experience in the media world whatsoever, this male made my job hell. What can you expect from someone who has never been in a newsroom, who does not know how to write a story? But I was told to report to him. This really shows how less power women have as journalists; those who are versatile are called names such as ‘iwule or umangumba’, a lot of female journalists have been called by these names, myself included just because there is a genre species who feel that their territory has been invaded.  This species tries by all means to push and shove young females out of the newsroom.

When I was Editor of the in-house publication I made sure I do not discriminate any of my reporters because of gender. I realised that the female reporters had potential the same way the male reporters had. All they need is just a chance to prove that they can do it. If a person is sidelined they tend to get into a cocoon and close themselves inside there and never come out. A chance and not discrimination is what most female journalists need in order to make it in the media fraternity.

1 of 16 Stories during 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Based Violence

The following narrative has been submitted to the NYDT by a young woman who cannot be named for fear of victimisation. She suffered 3 years of physical, emotional and even financial abuse from her husband during their customary marriage. This is the first of 16 stories of survival that the NYDT shall be sharing with the world  during 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence. submit yours to youthziminfo@gmail.com and help fight GBV. 

I told myself that he was going to change beating me almost everyday but I was just convincing my self, nothing changed for almost 3 years & I was scared that if I leave him I wont be able to stand up for my self but one day I said enough is enough I will leave him because my life is more important than anything else and everyday women are killed because of the abuse so I didn’t want to be a victim but victor, then I moved on with my life with the help of my family. And the most vital part is I just forgave for my life' s sake, I had to forgive because I needed peace with in my heart and God gave me strength to work for my kids and today here I am working for my 3 kids. So to all women out there get out of the misery life and live your life happily without fear your life is not a mistake God created you for his purpose not for men's purpose. Thank you love u all.

Residents Block Construction company from extracting quarry for free

Residents of Manganganga in Lupane joined forces against a construction company that sought to extract quarry from their village without consent from the locals. According to the residents, a number of construction companies are extracting quarry from Lupane for commercial purposes yet the communities have no benefit from the natural resource.

The truck, clearly marked with the construction company name was stopped by the residents before it could even begin loading the quarry. After failing to explain where he was from or where the quarry was going to, the driver was forced to compromise with the residents.

“We are well aware that for years now, there are construction companies that come to get quarry stones and sand here. These are companies from outside Lupane who get it free here and go and sell it for a killing in Bulawayo and other towns but we feel it’s about time we also started benefiting from it as well,” said Themba Ngwenya.  

The former councillor who was amongst the residents that intercepted the truck expressed the need for such companies to start ploughing back to Manganganga and other Lupane communities where they benefit from quarry and timber.

“We understand that these are natural resources that do not necessarily belong to anyone but the fact that they are located in our communities means we should benefit from them. So while these people will not buy it from us, they need to do something that will benefit our communities in exchange for the quarry and timber. We should actually be able to control our own resources, “said Libert Nyoni, the former councillor for Jotsholo ward 13.

 The driver of the truck was forced to compromise with the residents as it was evident he would return with an empty truck. He was eventually allowed to load the quarry on condition that he first transported river sand to the local school for its construction.

The incidence was witnessed by the NYDT who had just concluded a Constitutional Feedback meeting with youths from Manganganga and Ngondo villages. During the meeting, the youths had interrogated the systems of government and how it would help improve the distribution of resources, as well as the Bill of rights.  

NYDT Commemorates Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The National Youth Development Trust held a Young Women’s Study Circle in commemoration of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The objective of the study circle was to share key information with the young women about breast cancer and demystify myths about the disease. Mrs. Praxedis Nago a survivor of breast cancer and volunteer at Cancer Association of Zimbabwe facilitated the study circle.

Speaking at the meeting, Nago said that there was need for young women to understand cancer and its causes as the disease has been associated with witchcraft by a number of people leading to failure to get treatment and subsequently death. 

“Breast cancer is a disease that attacks mostly women but men can be affected by it too,” said Nago. “It is a result of cells that continue growing in the body eventually forming a tumor. If you see a lump on any part of your body you should go and see a doctor because it might be a cancerous tumor which is also known as a malignant tumor,” she said.

Nago outlined the stages of cancer to the young women. She said that there were four stages of which stage one would be the point when the cancer is just starting and in stage four it would be at its advanced stage when the cancer has spread to other parts of the body other than the breast.

She said that treatment for breast cancer involves a mastectomy, which is the surgical removal of the breast, or a lumpectomy which is a surgical operation to remove the tumor only. After undergoing one of these processes one would have to undergo chemotherapy, a process where they use chemical agents to treat cancer or radiotherapy which involves using radiation Xrays or beta rays directed at the breast to kill the cancer cells.

“There is need for people to persevere through treatment as chemotherapy can be very painful, its side effects include the loss of hair,” said Nago. “Radiotherapy on the other hand makes one tired and sweaty.  The important thing is not to focus on the side effects of the treatment but on being treated and staying alive.”

The young women were advised to avoid stress and watch the food they eat as these had been identified as causes of cancer. They were also told that cancer is hereditary hence the need to check if the family has a known history of cancer.

Nago demonstrated how the young women could check for lumps on their breasts, she also gave them pamphlets to read and distribute in their various wards in order to pass information about breast cancer. As a result, the young women pledged to regularly assess themselves for any signs of breast cancer for early detection.

The meeting was part of NYDT’s contribution to cancer awareness month as an organisation that works with young women. 

NYDT conducts Constitutional Feedback Meetings

The National Youth Development Trust conducted Constitutional feedback meetings in Makokoba (Wards 7 and 8) and Sizinda (Ward 21). The meetings were chaired by the local youth councillors and facilitated by Godwin Phiri of Intscha.com, who took the youths through the constitution making process as a way of putting them into perspective. The background of how the new constitution came to be became a crucial foundation before delving into the actual contents of the Constitution since some young people had not participated in the processes at all.

One of the key issues discussed in these meetings was the lack of harmony between provisions in the new constitution and other laws and practises of various institutions. The young people indicated that some provisions in the constitution are yet to benefit Zimbabweans because no mechanisms have been put in place to ensure that they become fully functional and effective. An example given was that of the right to education that is guaranteed in the constitution yet school going children and students are still being chased away from school for failure to pay school fees.

The rights to freedom of association and assembly were also said to be compromised by the provisions in the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) and the way it is being implemented by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).

“I do not see the point of saying I have a right to freedom of association and assembly if I will still get arrested for convening a meeting without getting cleared by the Police first. This simply means my ability to enjoy that right depends on whether a police officer somewhere wants me to  enjoy it or not. So basically that right is not guaranteed,” said Hope Sendamayi Ward 8 Youth Councillor.

The young people also highlighted that some government offices remain inaccessible to young people because they are poorly advertised. The Public protector’s office was said to be one of them as most youths in the meeting had no idea about its existence or its functions. As such it became evident that they were not benefiting from the services offered by the office of the Public Protector, formerly the Ombudsman.

In addition, the young people showed little understanding on the different roles of the various courts and hence the facilitator took time to explain these to them. The general concern amongst young people was that the country’s laws and constitutional provisions were not being explained to the general populace and as such were only known and understood by lawyers, activists and a few professionals only.

“It is as if these rights are meant to be enjoyed by a few elite because in many cases our rights are violated and we do not even know it because we are not aware of what the constitution entails,” said Viola Bango from Sizinda. 

The move to bring the constitutional feedback meetings to the communities by the NYDT was therefore commended as a crucial step towards bridging the information gap that exists between the elite and ordinary Zimbabweans.

The NYDT is currently embarking on a project to promote knowledge of the new constitution amongst young people. This is done through constitutional feedback meetings at a ward level and leaving copies of the constitution with focal people in those wards to make it accessible to them anytime. It is expected that once young people know their rights they will be able to enjoy them.  

Statement by the National Youth Development Trust on the Day of the African child

The National Youth Development Trust Joins the world in commemorating the day of the African child. This year’s commemorations are held under the theme: Eliminating Harmful social and cultural practices affecting children: Our collective responsibility. This theme realises that since time immemorial, Children the world over, and African children in particular have been subjected to a number of social and cultural practices that have caused them physical and psychological harm while the perpetrators of such have been allowed to get away with it. However, without necessarily divorcing from the common theme for the year 2013, the NYDT wishes to focus on the historical significance of June 16 to African children.

An analysis of voter registration results

This table shows the number of first time voters who successfully registered per province during the mobile registration exercise between 29 April and 19 May 2013.

PROVINCE                         NO. OF NEW REGISTRANTS

 Bulawayo                                                             5 068

 Matabeleland North                                            13 536

 Matabeleland South                                             9 403

 Midlands                                                             23 404

 Masvingo                                                            20 610

 Manicaland                                                         24 024

 Mashonaland East                                               35 266

 Mashonaland West                                             31 570

 Mashonaland Central                                          29 635

 Harare                                                               11 525

 

Statement by NYDT on World Press Freedom Day

The National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) joins the world in commemorating World Press Freedom under theme: Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in all Media. The theme clearly underlines the importance of guaranteed freedom of expression, particularly in the media. It also acknowledges the fact that a number of people have been victimised for expressing themselves freely in many forms.

In Zimbabwe, this theme comes at a critical time when the country is preparing for national elections. History is awash with evidence to the fact that election periods in Zimbabwe have often been characterised by serious censoring, victimisation of journalists, closure of some media houses and numerous other attempts to suppress the free flow of information to Zimbabwean citizens.

Mobile Voter Registration A Welcome Move

The move by the Registrar General’s office to introduce a thirty (30) day mobile voter registration service is most welcome especially to young people. This move is expected to go a long way in addressing some of the key challenges that affect young people with regards to voter registration. Chief amongst such challenges has been the proximity of the nearest registration centre. This has been noted as a hindrance to voter registration particularly given the fact that a number of young people are unemployed, have no source of income and therefore can barely afford transport fares to commute to the nearest registration centre. By introducing registration centres within their communities, the Registrar General has made the centres more accessible to the youths and the general citizenry. This move, together with the suspension of fines on lost identity documents contribute immensely to young people’s ability to participate in democratic processes.

Police Block Discussion Of Governance Issues At Youth Event

Police in Bulawayo barred the discussion of governance issues amongst young people gathered at an Arts Concert in Nkulumane Sekusile Hall last week arguing that such a big crowd can easily get out of control. The police demanded that all National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) banners be pulled down from the venue and nothing on governance be discussed as they were not prepared to deal with such issues.

Part of the audience at the Arts Concert in Nkulumane Suburb

The concert was organised by the National Youth development Trust in partnership with the Bulawayo Cultural Festival on Saturday April 20, 2013. It was held under the theme, “Know And Participate”, in an effort to inform young people about key national processes and encouraging them to effectively participate. Of particular importance at the concert was the need to encourage young people to register as voters given the impending national elections.  However, living up to the theme proved to be difficult as the police also insisted that no information educational and communication (IEC) material on governance can be distributed at the event. They argued that they were only prepared to deal with a simple arts concert. Given the fact that the event would draw a big crowd, they said, it would become difficult for them to control the young people if governance issues were to be discussed.   

However, most artists performed in T-shirts that encouraged young people to register to vote and some of the performances bore the youth electoral participation message.  Key performances were drawn from stand up comedian Clive Chigubu, Khoi-khoi, Djembe Monks, Kwabatsha, Bhatshi, GDA, Kadder, Mac, Nashie and Simunye amongst other artistes.

The NYDT has been using Arts concerts as mass mobilisation activities for a long time and this has allowed the organisation to disseminate information to a large group of youths. Such youth friendly activities are expected to continue as part of NYDT programming to ensure the sharing of critical information with young Zimbabweans.   

Provisions for Young People in the Draft Constitution

The COPAC Draft constitution can be commended for moving a step further in ensuring that specific provisions are made and clearly stated for the benefit of young people in Zimbabwe.  Such provisions in the Draft Constitution indicate that:

1   The state and all institutions and agencies of government at every level must take reasonable measures, including affirmative action programmes, to ensure that youths (15-35):

·         Have access to appropriate education and training
·         Have opportunities to associate and to be represented and participate in political, social, economic and other spheres of life
·         Are afforded opportunities for employment and avenues to economic empowerment
·         Have opportunities for recreational facilities and are:
·         Protected from harmful cultural practices, exploitation and all forms of abuse

2.      An Act of Parliament may provide for one or more national youth programs.

It goes on to state that measures referred to in 1 and 2 must be inclusive, non-partisan and national in character. Such provisions become significant in the supreme law of the land as it legally binds the state to act in accordance so as to ensure that the full potential of young people in realised.

NYDT condemns harassment of its members by police

The National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) would like to register its concerns over the continued police intimidation of civic society members generally and of NYDT members particularly. Police Officers are reportedly visiting NYDT members in the pretext that they are searching for evidence of voter registration material despite them not producing authentic search warrants for this purpose. The reported incidents have occurred in Bulawayo and Lupane.

In cases where the youths have allowed the police officers to carry out searches, they have found nothing concrete to substantiate their claims. NYDT is concerned that these unwarranted acts of intimidation on its members, come at a time when the country is heading towards the Referendum and General Elections, and this may only serve to lessen youth participation in these important national process.

These moves are also limiting the intentions and gains made so far by civic society organisations and even Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to lure young people to actively and effectively participate in national processes. These actions are not only reflecting a lack of sincerity by some sectors of the security forces to protect Zimbabweans but also that there is little or no sincerity in attempts to create a free and fair environment for elections to be carried out in.

NYDT therefore condemns such arbitrary and illicit searches and therefore calls on the Ministry of Home Affairs to intervene and call the police to order, over such unwarranted searches and general harassment of youths seeking to exercise their rights as citizens of Zimbabwe.