International Youth Day Commemoration

NYDT joins the rest of the world in commemorating World Youth Day under the theme Building a better world, partnering with the youth. This theme is commemorated in line with five priority areas under the UN System Wide Action Plan on Youth which include:

·         Employment,

·         Entrepreneurship,

·         Education (including sexual and reproductive health)

·         Political Inclusion

·         Citizenship and Protection of rights

As the world commemorates this day it is pivotal that  Zimbabwe conducts introspection on the attempts at supporting the key youth priorities under the Youth Action Plan. The International Youth day is equivocal in recognizing and appreciating the youths as central towards the development of the world in general and country in particular.

As much as NYDT recognises attempts at youth inclusion and government supporting initiatives that are: The development of the National Youth Policy, the establishment of the Youth Funds and inclusion by the Indigenization and Medium Term Plan policies.

However efforts must be enforced by the government in partnership with other stakeholders in promoting Youth initiatives in Zimbabwe.

We strongly implore that political parties should mainstream the total inclusion of youths as key decision makers and proponents in party policy developments

We underline the critical need to implement the MTP in totality as it promotes entrepreneur development and attempts to reduce the unemployment rate from 80 percent to close to 55 percent

We encourage the Government to strategically partner with NGOs and Civic Society Organisations in promoting youth awareness on various issues that contribute towards national development.

We recommend that issues that promote youth development in totality should not be used as a smokescreen for political aggrandizement and machinations, instead they should be a base in developing a prosperous generation.

Building a better world, partnering with the youth

NYDT’s Position on the Draft Constitution

National Youth Development Trust held a youth Convention on the 23^rd of June 2012. One of the key outputs from the Youth Convention were the non-negotiable benchmarks that ought to be factored in the draft constitution.

The current draft constitution has managed to factor critical issues raised by the youths during the Youth Convention these issues are:

•          Broad based bill of rights that safeguards the right to education, shelter, health and life.
•          Establishment of the Independent Commissions. The commissions that have since been proposed in the draft constitution include the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission, Zimbabwe Gender Commission, National Peace and Reconciliation Commission and the Anti- Corruption Commission.
•          A clear recognition of 16 official languages in Zimbabwe.
•          The inclusion of the citizenship clause that ensures that youths are registered under the Zimbabwean law

However, the Draft Constitution as per the expectations of the youth did not recognise:

1.      The establishment of an Independent National Youth Commission to support youth economic and social developments programmes.

2.      A shift in the majority age from 18 to 16 years and the call for young people in that age to be allowed to vote and be voted for political office. The law recognises that at 16 anyone can choose a life partner if that is so why not be allowed to make a decision about voting.

3.      The total inclusion of devolution of power as a part of the governance architecture. Currently the draft contains a watered down version of devolution which is not clear on fiscal devolutions and has no provisions for the direct election of provincial governors into office.

NYDT will continue engaging with other stakeholders to ensure that the youth convention resolutions at the convention are factored into the 2^nd draft before it goes for a referendum.

First time voter Campaign launched

Youth representatives from ZANU PF and the two MDC formations have endorsed the first time voter campaign, dubbed X1G campaign, a meaningful engagement of youths in electoral processes.

Addressing youths at the launch of the campaign, ZANU PF Youth National Secretary General, Leslie Ncube emphasised the need for young people to participate in elections in positive light. He also urged them to be tolerant of each other despite their diverse political backgrounds and affiliations. Fortune Mlalazi from the MDC also underlined the need for youths to respect each other's ideas for the betterment of the country. Adding on to those sentiments, MDC-T provincial youth chairperson, Themba Nyathi said that youths should effectively participate in the elections and become a vibrant force in setting up a youthful agenda.

“Unless young people begin to be active in voicing their issues and positively participating in elections, youth issues will not be given space.  As young people we need to be proactive in setting the youthful agenda for the nation,” he said. 

“Zimbabwe not ready for elections” -Lupane youths.

Youths in Manganganga area of Lupane have said that they are content with the current Inclusive government as a means of bringing stability to Zimbabwe whilst laying the ground work for a credible election. They said the Inclusive government has brought some semblance of peace and harmony to their community as opposed to the violent occurrences that characterised the reign of the previous government but a number of issues need to be addressed before any election can be declared.

The youths said since the inception of the Inclusive government that saw ZANU PF and the two MDCs sharing power, there has been a drastic decline in the number cases of politically motivated violence. They however noted with concern the statements being shared in the media about the possibility of an election this year.

“We do not want to hear anything about an election because to us elections mean death, torture and gross human rights violations amongst other things. Since the inclusive government was formed we are enjoying a semblance of peace which we did not enjoy when ZANU PF was single handedly in charge of government,” articulated one of the youths.

Another young person added that there are a lot of issues that are still pending in the inclusive government and as such there is no reason why anyone should rush for elections.

“Governors that were appointed a long time ago still have not assumed office and we are also still in the process of finalising a new constitution so there is no reason why we should be talking about elections right now. Instead, the principals (of the Inclusive Government) should be talking about finalising all the issues that will make sure that the next elections are free, fair and violence free,” he said.

The youths echoed these sentiments at a youth meeting convened by the National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) in Lupane. The youth meeting was done to gather the views of young people on the pending elections and assess whether they were ready for an election or not. The NYDT uses such platforms not only to gather the views of young people on various topical issues but to share information on current affairs with youths in the remote areas.       

The Local Youth Councils Initiative, is an initiative of the National Youth Development Trust which seeks to establish youth councils throughout Zimbabwe. These local youth councils shall exist to represent the views of young people at a local level through giving young people the opportunity to have a voice, to discuss relevant issues, engage with decision-makers and contribute to improving the lives of young people within their communities.

The Local Youth councils are meant to bring democracy to where young people live, they are meant to bring development opportunities to where young people live and it is hoped that this will play a major role in reversing the legacy of marginalisation suffered by our young people.
Through the delivery of their functions and work programmes, these Local Youth Councils shall seek to champion the well-being, rights and participation of young people by:

I. Supporting the development of effective youth policies at local governance levels

II. Facilitating meaningful collaboration between youth organisations and all sectors with a responsibility for young people.

III. Providing opportunities for young people and elected representatives to meet and discuss issues of concern to young people.

IV. Representing young people’s views to decision-makers  through Youth Policy Position Papers

These Local Youth Councils shall be run by young people for young people so that they can get their voices heard in the decisions that are being made in their neighbourhoods. They shall enable young people to have real influence over their own lives and within their own communities.
These youth councillors are meant to complement the work of the main councillors and not to compete or replace them. They shall exist solely for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the main councillors in particular and the local authorities in general, the concerns of young people at a local level. It is the expectation of the NYDT that rather than allienating them, the main councillors will be there to mentor them.

To date two of these initiatives have formed that is the Bulawayo Youth Council and Lupane Youth Council

Youths listen attentively at a Policy dialogue meeting in Kana Lupane