“Youth should be given a chance to take an active part in the decision-making of local, national and global levels “United Nations Secretary Ban Ki-Moon
Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) joins the whole world in commemorating the International Youth Day. This idea for International Youth Day was proposed in 1991 and has since been celebrated annually on August 12 to recognize efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their local communities.
PYD takes this occasion to reflect on the young people’s ingenuity, energy and contributions in enhancing peace and development since August 2010.August 2011 marks the end to the International Year of Youth: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding.PYD regrets that the young people in Zimbabwe generally remain marginalised and excluded from key decision making. The Global Political Agreement (GPA) which has promised a new political dispensation supposed to ensure that Zimbabwe moves from autocratic rule to a more democratic and open state, has not been very successful towards democratic reform by excluding young people .From the constitutional reform to the national healing program, the voices of the young people have been drowned. Violence continues to escalate, with the security sector fingered in acts of intimidation and partisanship.
As an organization, we are very much concerned and worried that the ongoing constitutional reform process still leaves a lot to be desired, in that the youth having been under represented ,are worse still not being effectively consulted. Party positions have already been imposed on all major issues of constitutional debate, leaving the young people exposed to either challenging their political leadership or succumbing to these well circulated narrow positions. This God given opportunity for the youth to shape their destiny is fast becoming a painful nightmare.PYD therefore challenges the COPAC team to stand strong against manipulation by politicians of any colour. Participation of the young people in the constitutional process has been critical and leaves a lot to be desired, therefore likely to embarrass the government during the referendum stage.
On another hand, the National Healing program remains a contestation of political party players instead of genuinely addressing its objectives as spelt out in the Global Political Agreement (GPA). While the principals to the political agreement have made public statements against violence, the youth have been completely left out in the cold. The national healing will remain a farce unless and until the youth who were victims and perpetrators are involved at every stage of this important assignment of the nation. Fresh cases of political violence and rivalry in the rural areas are continuing unabated. The socio-political participation of youths in Zimbabwe has been confined to youth leagues of political parties and the National Youth Service programme. The latter has been well documented as a paramilitary programme which churns out youth militias who have been notorious for committing crimes against humanity.
PYD is concerned that the Inclusive Government (IG) has failed on its promise. The young people located in the rural areas, farms and mining compounds are the most affected, marginalised, uninformed and taken for granted. The government has failed to protect young women in these marginalised communities where even civic organizations have been unsuccessful to penetrate in the quest to provide platforms for engagement. Harmful cultural practices are still being propagated to violate the rights of girls and young women. Youths challenges of poverty, unemployment, and climate change, weak democracy, HIV/AIDS etc, heightens the possibility of regression. When the youths lack opportunity they are more easily led to crime and violence, to drugs and risky sex, and deteriorate to the bottom of the social scale.
Tuition fees remain a cause of concern in the rural areas where most pupils are failing to afford. School dropouts are very high, and this problem is also tied to low remunerations given to teachers. The government needs to take the teachers remunerations seriously as opposed to tokens.
As we commemorate the international Youth Day, PYD fails to understand the arrogance exhibited by Macdom Investments in Chisumbanje.Despite the residents complaining of poor communication skills by this investor, the management continues to grab communal land belonging to the people in a mafia style. If the government fails to intervene, as promised by the Prime Minister, this case will become an international showcase for community power against mercenaries.
Lastly, PYD urges the government through the ministry of youth to popularise the African Youth Charter by involving all young people in the drafting a youth friendly policy.PYD condemns efforts by the youth ministry to politicise this all important national process.
PYD therefore recommends
- That young people are involved in national, regional and international negotiations to gain better understanding of the complexities of the Government of National Unity. We demand intergenerational transfer of experience in the ongoing negotiations.
- That youths are mobilised to resist any attempts to declare elections before any genuine constitutional reforms are made
- That the government seriously involve the young people in the indigenization programs with the view of addressing unemployment
- That young people register and votes enmasse in the forthcoming elections.
- That young people are freely tested for HIV/AIDS with ARVs made easily available
- That 12 August is declared a public holiday rather than merely acknowledging its importance.
Platform for Youth Development Trust (PYD) is a non-partisan, non-discriminatory and grassroots based youth organization that was formed by victimized youth to act as a platform, network and bridge for the youth in all spheres of life to articulate issues affecting them particularly relating to development, democracy, good governance, peaceful co-existence, human rights and the rule of law in Zimbabwe. PYD therefore seeks to bring together marginalized youth in rural and urban areas, farms, growth points and resettlement areas, church-based youth organizations including youth organizations for young women with a view to empowering them and to ensure their meaningful participation in championing the cause of democracy, respect for the rule of law, peaceful co-existence and good governance.
Inserted by PYD Information Department
For more Information contact
Claris Madhuku-Director -platformtrust@gmail.com
Physical address P.Bag 5004 Checheche, Chipinge
+263 773 010 331,+263 714 179 219
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