Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabwean youths want jobs not Border Gezi
10 Mar 2015 at 08:07hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe recently announced the re-establishment of the youth service.
The last memory Zimbabweans have of the initiative is of a militant Zanu-PF aligned gang infamous for terrrorising the defenseless citizens during election times.
The silence that has followed the pronouncement, a fortnight on is a cause of concern.
One wonders whether the youths in Zimbabwe have a voice.
Apparently, being a youth in Zimbabwe is no longer a source of pride, but a synonym of desperation and decadence.
Violence, crime and prostitution are tags now associated with the youths.
President Mugabe's announcement to revive the Border Gezi brigade serves no use to the youth.
Rather, it further intensifies the calamities of the youths and the political elite seem to enjoy it.
Since the turn of the millennium, the ZANU-PF regime has been hastily implementing populist policies which jeopardise the prospects of the youths.
From the Economic Structure Adjustment Program of 1990, the fast-track land reform and the indigenisation policy, the youth's contribution was never solicited.
One wonders if the President is getting the youth's contribution from Zimbabwe's most mature youth Absalom Sikhosana who is turning 64 this year.
President Mugabe and his government are in the habit of political grandstanding on issues which determine the country's political and economic well-being.
In most cases the government's stance has left the country isolated politically and economically much to the detriment of the majority of youths who are financially weak.
Mugabe announced during his birthday celebration that the re-establishment of the National Youth Services was on the cards and the government was already mobilising funds for this cause despite its failure to support noble youth initiatives throughout the country.
The president's announcement is opposite to what is on the ground; several youths are in need of jobs.
University graduates are now airtime vendors and touts.
Youths across Zimbabwe were never consulted on this "noble government project."
History tells us that the National Youth Service has never facilitated youth empowerment and development.
A culture of violence is cultivated into the youths in the name of patriotic ideology.
Youths in Zimbabwe need to rise above their political differences and denounce Mugabe's unilateral decision to re-establish the National Youth Service.
The president must solve more pertinent issues such as alarming level of unemployment currently projected at over 85%.
Youths are Zimbabwe's posterity and inculcating them with values and ethos to safeguard their nation is a noble cause.
But this should not be confused with defending Zanu-PF's hegemony come 2018 elections.
A National Youth Services which people of Zimbabwe want is one where the youths would be conscientised on progressive ideas such as democratic participation and entrepreneurship.
The call for the establishment of such a project should not emanate from Mugabe or any politician in Zimbabwe who are now known for sloganeering on youth developmental issues only to buy their political allegiance.
Youths in Zimbabwe have made significant inroads in both economic and political spaces much to the admiration of the nation.
Sydney Chisi and Takunda Chingonzo made international headlines for championing the cause of the youths.
As youths of Zimbabwe, we say are saying "No" to a youth services that nurtures millitarised youths.
Youths of Zimbabwe are not a means to political self-aggrandisement.
They are neither foot soldiers in Zanu-PF's factional fights nor are they the right people to solve Morgan Tsvangirai's political squabbles with the Renewal movement or the so called United Movement of Democratic change.
Youths are the future leaders not pallbearers. In this information age, archaic and far-fetched topic such as neo-colonialism and national security are not our staple food.
With this unprecedented level of unemployment and youths living in abject poverty, it is high time youths wake up from this political slumber and confront the system that is breeding all this suffering.
There is nothing as bad as not trying. Together we can stop millitarisation of the youth whose face should be symbol vibrancy.
Musavengana Hove is a final year Journalism and Media student at NUST. He writes this story as part of UN youth campaign #Youthnow. Email soldierjournalist@gmail.com for feedback.
Source - Musavengana Hove
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