Opinion / Columnist
Youths give ZYC ultimatum, threaten tough measures
07 Oct 2011 at 11:27hrs | Views
LAST week The New Age Voices carried an article with reactions of some youth organisations and other stakeholders on the suspension of YETT's licence by the Zimbabwe Youth Council. The Editor of The New Age Voices Francis Rwodzi had a no holds barred interview with the Chairman of ZYC, Hamilton Pazvakavambwa and Director Livingstone Dzikira to get an insight into the rationale behind the council's decision and its subsequent implications.
This week we also give you the latest developments within the civic society over the ZYC-YETT story.
Pazvakavambwa told The New Age Voices that the decision to suspend YETT is not aimed at attacking any youth organisation but on enforcing the rules and regulations and setting parameters based on the development of young people.
"There must be no illusions. Youth organisations must simply conform to the rules and regulations that govern the youth sector and as the Zimbabwe Youth Council we are there to enforce those regulations. People should not just go about doing as they please as if there are no regulations. If you go to America and Britain and so on, the rules are clear, you have to observe them," Pazvakavambwa said.
When asked whether the suspension was procedural or not, Pazvakavambwa was elusive but maintained the decision taken by the council was for the good of young people.
"The bottom line is that we cannot have a situation where people can receive and parcel out funds willy-nilly, what if those funds are terrorist funds? We have no bone to chew with YETT but we want them to do the proper thing. As you are aware this is just a suspension and not a cancellation like what some people are saying, they just have to explain themselves," he said.
"You quoted someone saying that the council is equivalent to a burial society. It is quite strange because it is that same institution they seconded board members to," said Pazvakavambwa.
He said Youth in this country are actually disempowered because they waste their time writing concept papers to countries struggling with their economies instead of writing business proposals meant for development.
Dzikira said that contrary to rumours that they are clamping down on youth organisations, the council is committed to serve youth organisations and said that Youth Forum was never an issue but just a case study.
"We are surprised at the reaction of Youth Forum because we have no issues with them, they are just beneficiaries.
We are more concerned with the people who are funding their operations. We didn't know YETT until they registered with us about a month ago but what we have seen is that they are funding pro-MDC youth organisations. If they want to fund youths they should just give money to all regardless of political affiliation. We are saying YETT should depoliticise," Dzikira said.
"If Promise Mkwananzi sets up a youth fund for his youth assembly, we have no problems as long as it has declared its political nature," he said.
In latest developments, this paper was able to peep through the council's fresh communiqué where Dzikira has written to YETT asking them to furnish the council with details of the YETT-SIDA youth fund outlining details of the total amount of the grant, the organisations that they are working with and the total amounts that they have received and the addresses where they are found including the nature of their activities. Dzikira says that this is in accordance with section 13, 14 and 15 of the ZYC Act.
Meanwhile, youth organisations under the banner of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition have given ZYC a 7 day ultimatum to lift the suspension of YETT or face action.
The organisations said they are concerned about the continued harassment and political meddling in the affairs and work of youth organizations by the ZYC and the executive, as represented by the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenization and Empowerment.
The Crisis youth committee said the suspension of YETT from ZYC was unprocedural because the Registration and Compliance Committee of the ZYC board did not meet to discuss the issue as per the provisions of the ACT.
They also said that YETT was not asked to appear before a disciplinary committee as provided for by section 22 (2) of the act which states that "the council shall not suspend or suspend the registration of any club until it has given the club an opportunity to be heard."
"The decision to suspend YETT from the Council was taken by the Director in direct contravention of the ZYC Act section 3B which provides for the establishment of the Council further supported by Section 16.
"We further condemn the spate of tension that has been witnessed in the operations of the Zimbabwe Youth Council with other youth organizations.
"ZYC must immediately stop the harassment and victimization of youth organizations and reinstate YETT as a council member of ZYC within a period of 7working days," said the committee.
The youth coalition demanded that "ZYC must with immediate effect stop harassing and traumatizing the Director of YETT based on patriarchal tendencies and irresponsible male dominance. That the ZYC space be all inclusive including space for young women's participation in all youths spheres without discrimination".
They also demanded that "The Zimbabwe Youth Council Act must be amended to allow youths to determine their leaders, free expression and association and reduce executive powers of the Minister of Youth in ZYC affairs with special reference to sections 3A(1); 3D(C ); 3E; 3F(1)(a); 3G; 6(1); 8; 9; 10(1); 24(3); 26".
"Principals of the Global Political Agreement together with Parliament of Zimbabwe must set up a credible, Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the composition and operations of ZYC.
"ZYC must, in a non partisan manner, fulfil its mandate of providing an inclusive platform for all youths to deliberate on youth issues," the coalition demanded.
They also said as the principal chief advisor to government on youth issues and concerns "ZYC must embark on thorough and inclusive processes that holistically encompass the input of youth from various backgrounds".
The coalition threatened that failure to abide by the demands, civic society will recall all pro-democratic youths from the ZYC Board, youth organizations will disengage from the council's activities and affairs, civic society will pursue legal avenues to challenge both the legality of the suspension and constitutionality of the ZYC Act and actions and that youth Organizations in Zimbabwe and the youths at large will cease to recognize the existence and or establishment of Zimbabwe Youth Council.
This week we also give you the latest developments within the civic society over the ZYC-YETT story.
Pazvakavambwa told The New Age Voices that the decision to suspend YETT is not aimed at attacking any youth organisation but on enforcing the rules and regulations and setting parameters based on the development of young people.
"There must be no illusions. Youth organisations must simply conform to the rules and regulations that govern the youth sector and as the Zimbabwe Youth Council we are there to enforce those regulations. People should not just go about doing as they please as if there are no regulations. If you go to America and Britain and so on, the rules are clear, you have to observe them," Pazvakavambwa said.
When asked whether the suspension was procedural or not, Pazvakavambwa was elusive but maintained the decision taken by the council was for the good of young people.
"The bottom line is that we cannot have a situation where people can receive and parcel out funds willy-nilly, what if those funds are terrorist funds? We have no bone to chew with YETT but we want them to do the proper thing. As you are aware this is just a suspension and not a cancellation like what some people are saying, they just have to explain themselves," he said.
"You quoted someone saying that the council is equivalent to a burial society. It is quite strange because it is that same institution they seconded board members to," said Pazvakavambwa.
He said Youth in this country are actually disempowered because they waste their time writing concept papers to countries struggling with their economies instead of writing business proposals meant for development.
Dzikira said that contrary to rumours that they are clamping down on youth organisations, the council is committed to serve youth organisations and said that Youth Forum was never an issue but just a case study.
"We are surprised at the reaction of Youth Forum because we have no issues with them, they are just beneficiaries.
We are more concerned with the people who are funding their operations. We didn't know YETT until they registered with us about a month ago but what we have seen is that they are funding pro-MDC youth organisations. If they want to fund youths they should just give money to all regardless of political affiliation. We are saying YETT should depoliticise," Dzikira said.
"If Promise Mkwananzi sets up a youth fund for his youth assembly, we have no problems as long as it has declared its political nature," he said.
In latest developments, this paper was able to peep through the council's fresh communiqué where Dzikira has written to YETT asking them to furnish the council with details of the YETT-SIDA youth fund outlining details of the total amount of the grant, the organisations that they are working with and the total amounts that they have received and the addresses where they are found including the nature of their activities. Dzikira says that this is in accordance with section 13, 14 and 15 of the ZYC Act.
Meanwhile, youth organisations under the banner of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition have given ZYC a 7 day ultimatum to lift the suspension of YETT or face action.
The organisations said they are concerned about the continued harassment and political meddling in the affairs and work of youth organizations by the ZYC and the executive, as represented by the Minister of Youth Development, Indigenization and Empowerment.
The Crisis youth committee said the suspension of YETT from ZYC was unprocedural because the Registration and Compliance Committee of the ZYC board did not meet to discuss the issue as per the provisions of the ACT.
They also said that YETT was not asked to appear before a disciplinary committee as provided for by section 22 (2) of the act which states that "the council shall not suspend or suspend the registration of any club until it has given the club an opportunity to be heard."
"The decision to suspend YETT from the Council was taken by the Director in direct contravention of the ZYC Act section 3B which provides for the establishment of the Council further supported by Section 16.
"We further condemn the spate of tension that has been witnessed in the operations of the Zimbabwe Youth Council with other youth organizations.
"ZYC must immediately stop the harassment and victimization of youth organizations and reinstate YETT as a council member of ZYC within a period of 7working days," said the committee.
The youth coalition demanded that "ZYC must with immediate effect stop harassing and traumatizing the Director of YETT based on patriarchal tendencies and irresponsible male dominance. That the ZYC space be all inclusive including space for young women's participation in all youths spheres without discrimination".
They also demanded that "The Zimbabwe Youth Council Act must be amended to allow youths to determine their leaders, free expression and association and reduce executive powers of the Minister of Youth in ZYC affairs with special reference to sections 3A(1); 3D(C ); 3E; 3F(1)(a); 3G; 6(1); 8; 9; 10(1); 24(3); 26".
"Principals of the Global Political Agreement together with Parliament of Zimbabwe must set up a credible, Independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the composition and operations of ZYC.
"ZYC must, in a non partisan manner, fulfil its mandate of providing an inclusive platform for all youths to deliberate on youth issues," the coalition demanded.
They also said as the principal chief advisor to government on youth issues and concerns "ZYC must embark on thorough and inclusive processes that holistically encompass the input of youth from various backgrounds".
The coalition threatened that failure to abide by the demands, civic society will recall all pro-democratic youths from the ZYC Board, youth organizations will disengage from the council's activities and affairs, civic society will pursue legal avenues to challenge both the legality of the suspension and constitutionality of the ZYC Act and actions and that youth Organizations in Zimbabwe and the youths at large will cease to recognize the existence and or establishment of Zimbabwe Youth Council.
Source - harare@byo24.com
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