Zimbabwean youths as agents for change, not violence
The recent violent clashes experienced in various parts of the country are politically motivated and youths have become victims as well as perpetrators of violence. Instead of fighting for leadership positions, youths are seen fighting each other to defend old politicians to stay in power. Political parties in Zimbabwe have realized that there is power in the grassroots and have taken advantage of the high unemployment to use youths in election campaigning and to perpetrate violence. The situation in Zimbabwe currently portrays youths as unorganized, violent and undisciplined people.
Youths in Zimbabwe are not economically empowered with enough resources to sustain themselves. Whenever there are elections youths are promised jobs and a better future but these promises are never fulfilled.
The recent uprisings in North Africa have seen youths at the forefront in campaigning for change. Unemployment has been the primary driver of their involvement in the protests.
Politicization of public places like Mbare Musika and Gulf Complex has seen youths especially from ZANU PF going around beating people and stopping them from conducting business at these public places. On the other hand ZANU PF blames the MDC T leader, Tsvangirai, for making comments that incite violence. Youth representatives from opposition parties say that violence in Zimbabwe can only be stopped if police start doing their jobs rather than being used as a mafia tool of the State.
At a meeting held in Harare hosted by the Youth Alliance for Democracy, youth representatives from political parties acknowledged that the current trend of events in Zimbabwe shows that elections and violence go hand in hand and that youths have become dangerous weapons at disposal of any political party. Youths should unite and campaign for an environment, which they can participate in, rather than continue to be used as agents of destruction.
Saturday, February 19th 2011 at 3:04 pm
What we need is a youth driven party. Political campaign should not have an attachment of violence. This is organised chaotic disorder and it is not going to stop because some bottom level employees decided to down their tools. Soon we will be back to 27 june and a lot more innocent people will die. I commend you efforts but it will all be for nothing. The violence is not driven by a youth agenda but is a planned action with financial backing. The nature of our current political unrest is beyond the control of any one individual but demands a collective effort at national level to face and address the root cause of the calamity. We do not want to write the history of zimbabwe as a lawless nation there is more to us than beating and killing each other all in the name of political chants we have heard sung with a different tune for decades. I call on the youth to drive their own signature into the making of a better zimbabwe.
Monday, February 21st 2011 at 11:34 am
The youths themselves need to examine their reasons for perpetrating violence. As you said Lenard they are not fighting for leadership positions for themselves, but are instead fighting to keep present leaders in their positions. Until the youth take responsibility for themselves and start thinking for themselves the violence will not go away.
@ Bernie986: the last thing we need is another political party to sponsor violence. Have you stopped to ask what politics has done for you lately?