Opinion / Columnist
Of age and Zanu-PF
21 Jul 2014 at 16:52hrs | Views
I laughed as I read today that Zanu-PF youth secretary Absolom Sikhosana called on the youths to allow Mugabe to rule the country "until he is tired". If I was on Twitter or Facebook I was going to say LOL (laugh out loud) at this. Hpw rhetoric is it that a 60 year old youth leader has this to say about a 90 year old who is old already.
The UN definition of "youth" is any person between the age of 15 and 24. But however UNESCO adopted definition given in the African Youth Charter where "youth" means "every person between the ages of 15 and 35 years". Its somehow rhetoric that Zanu PF as a party has failed to secure a leader in the youth category as a Secretary, hence the choice was Absolom. In a country as learned as Zimbabwe I dont see the failure to get an ideal learned leader in place of an "old man" Sikhosana. Of cause they say age comes with maturity but we would expect guys like Sikhosana to stand as advisors not taking the whole leadership.
Still on Zanu PF leadership, ther conditions they set out for congress leadership congress are so strict that it is clear that ZANU-PF intends only to keep its old dogs on top. The ruling party last week announced a raft of elections rules and regulations that will see members who's have not served for 15 consecutive years barred from contesting central committee and women's league positions ahead of the congress. Five of the 15 years should have been served in the party's provincial structures.This means for a 35 year old tostand a chance for cemtral committee he should have joined the party at 15 to be maybemaybe elected for a provincial post, and 15 years later for a the central committee mamber. Which is rather absurd and it doesn't open up positions for fresh minds and young minds who brings new ideas.
What Zimbabwe needs is a fresh inception of new leadership. Clearly we have leadership crisis in Zimbabwe. This can be noted how confusion was created by differentdifferent Ministers in the last months trying to explain their position on Indigenisation policy. This has in the past been a big effect to the investor confidence and attraction of much needed Foreign Direct investment (FDI). Lastly well we are waiting for what our Youth leader said thay we should allow Mugabe to "lead until he is tired". But LOL at 90 isnt he tired already.
Tapiwanashe Mapindani writes on his personal capacity. Follow me on Twitter @KuleVeZaka
Source - Tapiwanashe Mapindani
All articles and letters published on Bulawayo24 have been independently written by members of Bulawayo24's community. The views of users published on Bulawayo24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Bulawayo24. Bulawayo24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.
