Bulawayo Youth Leaders Joint Resolution Press Release

#1f4361"> #1f4361">Bulawayo Youth Leaders Joint Resolution

#737373">BULAWAYO YOUTH LEADERS JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 003 (press release) adopted on the 15#737373">^th#737373"> of May, 2012,

#737373"> #737373">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact Spokesperson of the
Commission of Inquiry
Luke Sibanda +263 773 732 154 

RESOLUTION ON THE RECENT KURERA/UKONDLA YOUTH FUND RELEASED AND ADMINISTERED BY THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND INDIGENIZATION.


In view of the perennial human rights violation of  our people and fellow countrymen since the conquest of our nation by the Pioneer column in 1893, to the cruel, gruesome, dehumanizing Gukurahundi Genocide of 1983- 1987 up to the current intolerable system of marginalization oppression and repression. 

In reference to the following resolutions and Declarations

#000000">1. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Resolution 217 (III) of December 10, 1948

#300906">2. The African Charter

#300906">3. The African youth charter.

#300906">4. Declaration on the right to development, Resolution A/41/128 of 4 December 1986

#000000">5. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Resolution A/61/L.67) of September 2007.
#000000">6.  Declaration on the Rights of People belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious and Linguistic Minorities (Resolution                    47/135) of 18 December 1992.
#000000">7. Declaration on the granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples (Resolution 1514 [XV]) of 1960.
#000000">8. Declaration regarding the Non-Self-Governing Territories (Chapter XI) of the UN Charter.
#000000">9. The Declaration of the Decade 1990 -2000 as the International Decade #000000">for#000000"> the Eradication of Colonialism (Resolution 43/ 47).
#000000">10.  Declaration of the Protection of All Persons from Being Subjected to Torture, and Other Cruel, Inhuman or  Degrading Treatment or Punishment of 1984.
#000000">11.  The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crimes of  Genocide.
#000000">12.  Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 1963.
#000000">13.  Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief.
#000000">14. The International Bill of Human Rights of 1989.
#000000">15. The Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States of 1974.
#000000">16. Declaration on International Economic Cooperation of 1990.
#000000">17. Declaration and Programme of Action on the Establishment of a New International Order (NIEO) of 1974.
#000000">18. International Development Strategies for the First (1961-1970) to the Forth (1991-2000) United Nations  Development Strategies.

#000000">19. United Nations Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development (UNPAAERD).

#000000">And all UN statutes omitted or otherwise.

Whereas we as a people have suffered severe, intolerable, degrading, painful, devastating and inhuman treatment in the hands of the government, 
Whereas our fathers and relatives have been persecuted, tortured and maimed before,the hard realities of the past atrocities against our people haunt us everyday,
Whereas, the marginalization of both our region and our people has become unbearable, more than 70% of the total number of people in the country is unemployed. The industry of our city is completely down.
Whereas, the recent fund that has already been disbursed has already shown a continuation of the system of marginalization, 
Whereas the respective members from our respective organizations are also applicants of the fund and have not been shortlisted,
Therefore, we as the youth of this region, we bring to your attention that we are aware of the government's systematized segregationist policy as calls for fair reforms have been ignored. 
-Recognizing that this type of marginalization is not new to us, 
-Recognizing that we are systematically disadvantaged and discriminated against.
Aware of the hidden agenda against our people our region and nation that has become ignorable, bent on completely destroying our livelihoods and lives.

Re - affirming that all men are born equal and have inalienable rights.
Re- affirming that we have fundamental rights that must be respected.

Determined to bring about development to our region and nation and end the misery our people have endured non- stop.
#000000">Dedicated#000000"> #000000">to the task of ending all forms of marginalization without fear. 

#000000">We as the young people from different organizations and political institutes concerned about our welfare, the welfare of our people, our nation and that of our future children met on the 4#000000">th#000000"> of May 2012 and adopted the following resolutions.

1. Set up a commission of inquiry on the recent Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund distributed by the Ministry of Youth and indigenization through CABS bank. 

The irregularities that have surfaced during the disbursement of the Kurera/Ukondla Youth Fund have led to the formation of a Commission of Inquiry. The resolutions that were arrived at by the people representative groups seek to build a platform for redress. To date, the ministry has not presented a comprehensible explanation on the criteria of disbursement of youth funds ; while on the other hand, no meaningful information dissemination has been forwarded to the public through mass media. This came in the wake that the loans have not been benefiting the needy youths of this region serve for those who are handpicked along partisan lines in order to give the notion that all is progressive in the eyes of the unsuspecting citizens of Matebeleland. However, the commission of inquiry has delved much into investigating disbursements made in the Bulawayo province and the different institutions charged with the disbursements gave varied figures. 

2 Approach responsible institutes of the fund and find out what criteria was used to disburse funds and why there is an irregularity with the current disbursement, why as of the 5th of March 2012 according to the Zimbabwe youth Council Harare  already had sixty eight (68) youth Beneficiaries and why Bulawayo only had  twenty two (22) Beneficiaries. The April disbursement has been also published and has shown a new twist to the information provided in the Zimbabwe Youth Council Website. In the March list contact details and addresses of the so-called beneficiaries were posted and yet the April disbursement as last shown in the Zimbabwe Youth Council website on the 15 of May has a list with no contact details which makes it impossible to make follow throughs. 



The purpose of the commission of inquiry is to draw the understanding to the government and institutions concerned with the welfare of this province that there are areas of discrimination that need consideration if ever a conducive political, social, and economic environment is to be created. The Bulawayo Youth Leaders Joint Resolution, a people representative group, brings to attention the flawed system to the responsible ministry and institutions to desist from the application of arbitrary, discriminatory, and tribal system that has over the years ushered in the disenfranchisement of the people of the province of their prerogative to administer their own resources.

3 Have 100% jurisdiction over the $1 000 000.00 allocation for Bulawayo province and only deducting the difference that has already been disbursed.
Now, the question is, why the varied figures?. 

Now, having reliably discovered that this system is bent on creating socially, and economically defunct youths in this province so as to pave way for alien youths to benefit at the expense of local youths; then, any honest economic redress measure will require an ultimate fundamental system that will equalize the distribution of economic wealth and that should also include absolute jurisdiction of such disbursements of youth funding. 

Our one million Provincial allocation be sent to C.A.B.S Bulawayo Regional offices immediately, and such be done to other provinces of Matabeleland and Midlands.
#000000">4 Set up a  local independent board of expects who will review proposals and business plans of youths from Bulawayo.   
We have also resolved that a local independent board be set up to manage our local provincial allocation. We would also like to remind our fellow countrymen and the government that the funds being disbursed are not private funds. They are the very taxes we pay either directly or indirectly through various tax statutes or otherwise solicitated and solely dedicated to the development of our people and our nation. As such we are equally entitled to the funds.

Given the above facts and sentiments we would like to remind our people, the government and the world that all men are born equal and as such deserve equal treatment. That the concept of self-determination is anchored on the unlimited, unrestricted and unconditional enjoyment of one's local resources and that this is our rightful territory and as such we must benefit from the resources set aside for our people. Without fear or compromise we demand that our demands and needs be dealt with immediately. That a new board be set locally and considering that our people are suffering these funds be disbursed immediately.
The Bulawayo Youth Leaders Joint Resolution group is existent in order to pursue, through advocacy, meaningful projects facilitation for the youths of the region of Matebeleland. To this end, we seek to ensure that the people of this region are mobilized in defense of their right to meaningful self- governance as enshrined in the UN Charter and other regional provisions of the African Union. The arbitrariness that has seen the youths from this region falling behind the rest of the other regions in terms of education, self actualization, opportunities, economic worth, and civic participation has only helped fuel an agitation for self determination since other proposed reforms by the people of this region have fallen on deaf ears. Those whose glory presides in the inequalities will frown upon these assertions.     
       
Here today as Youth leaders from different civic institutes and political parties and representing our members and institutes in Bulawayo declare compliance with the above resolutions taken by the joint council.