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 Lament Lack of Local Skills Development Opportunities

Youths in Ntabazinduna have castigated the Government for turning their vocational training centre into a police training depot that has never benefitted them since it came into existence. They argued that there are so many people coming from other areas to train at that depot and no opportunity has been awarded for local youths.

The young people who gathered under the NYDT banner at a District Peace Workshop lambasted the authorities responsible for transforming the Ntabazinduna skills training centre into a police training depot. The centre among other things used to offer skills training on catering, woodwork, carpentry, agriculture, cutting and design training to local youths. However, it was transformed into a police base without consultation with the locals.