News / National
Zapu youth challenge the 40 year age limits clause for presidency
01 Jul 2017 at 13:58hrs | Views
ZAPU youth have resolved to challenge a constitutional clause, which sets the age limit for any aspiring presidential candidate at 40 years and above.
The resolution to challenge Section 91 article 1(b) of Chapter 5 Part 2 of the Constitution on presidential aspirants age limits was agreed at Zapu's youth convention on elections held in Bulawayo.
The youth say they were already mobilising others within and outside the party to "somewhat force the first referendum on the newly-adopted Constitution", when they launch their constitutional challenge.
Zapu spokesperson, Iphithule Maphosa told Southern Eye the party's youths instead want a cut-off age limit of all presidential aspirants to be set at 70 years.
"Our national Constitution somehow impedes on the youth's political rights by prescribing a minimum age for country's presidency. It should instead be talking about a ceiling on the presidency, say one can't run for President when they turn 65 or 70," he said in an interview.
President Robert Mugabe (93), will be the oldest presidential candidate during next year's general elections.
"That is more logical than closing out young and energetic people from serving the country, while opening up for the old, who probably have no new ideas for our country. The youth resolved to make attempts to correct the constitutional flaw, agreeing to mobilise other youth countrywide, even from other parties and civic organisations to launch the challenge."
Maphosa said it is ironic how Zimbabwe fails to tap into the innovative minds of the young people when other countries invest so much in young leaders, giving an example of newly-elected French President, Emmanuel Macron, who is 39 years old.
Maphosa also gave examples of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party president, Mmusi Maimane and Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema, who are both less than 40 years old, but "are successfully leading the country's two strongest opposition parties".
Recently, Zapu president, Dumiso Dabengwa, while addressing a rally in Marula in Matabeleland South, called for a youth quota in the opposition party when it starts selecting its parliamentary and candidates for the 2018 elections.
The resolution to challenge Section 91 article 1(b) of Chapter 5 Part 2 of the Constitution on presidential aspirants age limits was agreed at Zapu's youth convention on elections held in Bulawayo.
The youth say they were already mobilising others within and outside the party to "somewhat force the first referendum on the newly-adopted Constitution", when they launch their constitutional challenge.
Zapu spokesperson, Iphithule Maphosa told Southern Eye the party's youths instead want a cut-off age limit of all presidential aspirants to be set at 70 years.
"Our national Constitution somehow impedes on the youth's political rights by prescribing a minimum age for country's presidency. It should instead be talking about a ceiling on the presidency, say one can't run for President when they turn 65 or 70," he said in an interview.
President Robert Mugabe (93), will be the oldest presidential candidate during next year's general elections.
"That is more logical than closing out young and energetic people from serving the country, while opening up for the old, who probably have no new ideas for our country. The youth resolved to make attempts to correct the constitutional flaw, agreeing to mobilise other youth countrywide, even from other parties and civic organisations to launch the challenge."
Maphosa said it is ironic how Zimbabwe fails to tap into the innovative minds of the young people when other countries invest so much in young leaders, giving an example of newly-elected French President, Emmanuel Macron, who is 39 years old.
Maphosa also gave examples of South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance political party president, Mmusi Maimane and Economic Freedom Fighters leader, Julius Malema, who are both less than 40 years old, but "are successfully leading the country's two strongest opposition parties".
Recently, Zapu president, Dumiso Dabengwa, while addressing a rally in Marula in Matabeleland South, called for a youth quota in the opposition party when it starts selecting its parliamentary and candidates for the 2018 elections.
Source - newsday
