More than 20000 young people in Chipinge and
Manicaland are expected to sign a petition for the implementation of the
International Law on the Cessation of War and the Achievement of World Peace.
This process kicked off at Checheche Growth Point during the cleanup and road
show organized by the Platform for Youth Development Truston the 7th
of May 2016. On the first day, 267 youths signed the petition and the process
is going ahead until we get to 20 000 signatures. Unathi Kewuti from the
International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) who attended the clean-up campaign at
Checheche Growth Point launched the petition signing process.
IPYG
(International Peace Youth Group) is a youth organization working for world
peace and uniting all international youths. IPYG was formed by groups of youths
who came together with same idea of peace across cultures, languages, borders
and nationalities. Many youths groups from across the world including Platform
for Youth Development have joined and become IPYG members. According to Unathi
Kewuthi (IPYG representative to Zimbabwe) who travelled all the way from South
Africa, the youths are so
powerful and energetic so they should use their energy and numbers to make a
collective demand forsustainable peace. He urged young people to refuse to
fight against one another as a statement in the face of world leaders who
survive on their war credentials sustained by youths.
The cleanup campaign and road show organized by the
Platform for Youth Development made very strong statements against all forms of
violence that have social, economic and political consequences. The objective
of the cleanup was to raise consciousness on the young people to be responsible
citizens with ability to co exist with their environment. Key messaging was the
defense of natural resources and condemnation of violence.
Platform for Youth Development Trust has battled
with violence since 2008 when Zimbabwe experienced monumental political
violence that left many communities in Chipinge destroyed mainly by the hand of
the young people at the instigation of politicians. The Presidential runoff
experienced in June 2008 led to many homesteads burnt and communities divided
on their political choices. Since then PYD has worked closely with organizations
like the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) and Heal Zimbabwe to set up
Peace Clubs aimed at making a bold statement against violence.
According to
PYD Director, Mr. Claris Madhuku, PYD is a platform created for young people to
meet and discuss issues of livelihood as a strategy for coexistence and to
limit cases of any forms of violence. “Our road show and cleanup campaign
attracted young people found in churches, schools and out of school and in
particular those in political parties because of their importance in
challenging acts of violence. We are very clear that young people in political
parties are the biggest proponents of violence due to partisanship and intolerance”
Madhuku said.
“As a community based organization, PYD is committed
to address all forms of violence that goes beyond those sponsored by the state.
Domestic violence such as rape and physical battering of women by men has been
on the increase making our communities unsafe for women” Cynthia Gwenzi who is the PYD Gender and Advocacy Officer reiterated.
Inserted
by the PYD Information Department
For more
details contact the PYD Director on +263 773010 331 or
PYD Board Chair on +263 772 896 458
No comments:
Post a Comment