Zimbabwe Students Alliance : Model United Nation Conference

Press Statement

The Zimbabwe Student Alliance(ZSA) is a Students Organisation whose lifetime commitment is the development of Zimbabwean Students learning outside Zimbabwe through fighting against discrimination and ensuring that the socio-economic and political livelihoods of the students are upheld and their academic rights are not curtailed.

ZSA is to hold a Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Model United Nations Conference in the North West Province of South Africa from 25 to 27 November 2011.

The Conference that has been named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe German writer, pictorial artist, biologist, theoretical physicist, and polymath who is considered the supreme genius of modern German literature is set to bring together Zimbabwean Students studying Abroad.

The Participants are students who will step into the shoes of ambassadors from UN Security Council member states to debate current issues on the organization's agenda. While playing their roles as ambassadors, student "delegates" make speeches, prepare draft resolutions, negotiate with allies and adversaries.

Objectives

The objectives of the Conference are
To produce a network of young people who understand the use of dialogue as a tool of engagement as opposed to violent confrontation

To give Participants a better view of the work made by the United Nations
To enhance participant's better knowledge of International Conflict resolution.

To equip the Participants with skills in negotiating, debate, networking, lobbying and delivering formal speeches

Project Justification

Zimbabwe is a country with a sad history of armed strife, political violence and ethnic disturbances. In resolution of such tragedies there are two matters constant. The first is that young people always form the bulk of the executing agents in acts of violence. The second is that all of these incidences end in negotiations where young people are excluded in total.

These young people are made to end the fights sometimes before they and the victims even understand the intended outcome of the strife. They thus become the roots that sow the future of violence.

This was the major cause of the internal disturbances in the Zimbabwe National Army in 1980. The young soldiers could not understand the essence of the Lancaster House negotiations and hence felt sold out by the leaders who negotiated.

In the current era of the inclusive government, many Zimbabweans especially young people feel sold out by either principals for negotiating for the formation of this government and thus they remain a source of disturbances.
This Moot UN Conference therefore seeks to build young leaders with an understanding of the essence diplomacy and peaceful conflict resolution or relationship building in all spheres and levels of human existence. In particular, the difference between the past and the present of the Federal Republic of Germany can help in understanding the essence of good international relations in national development.

The Federal Republic of Germany has a history similar to Zimbabwe having been a long time trouble causer in its region of the European continent. Emerging from being a historical example of what dictatorship can achieve, Germany has transformed herself into an economic giant and peace builder of repute. These and other lessons, if taught to the young people of Zimbabwe stand a chance of inspiring them to take charge of the destiny of their country for the better

All Zimbabweans Studying Abroad can apply online to take part in the event www.zsaonline.blogspot.com

Shephard Dube
Director and Secretary General
+27 83 969 5731