Time for youths to fight for collective interests

Youths were the major perpetrators of this violence and our actions stemmed largely from political manipulation by power hungry politicians who sought to safeguard their continued stay in political offices.

Eight years on, as the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CIZC) Youth Committee, we are deeply concerned over the continued manipulation of youths by rowdy politicians at a time the government has failed to deliver on its core obligation to revive the economy and create employment for millions of youths who have been the biggest casualties of a failed economy.

It is very much concerning that instead of improving the livelihoods of the young population in Zimbabwe, those in the echelons of power have instead turned youths into a weapon to entrench their stay in political offices or to fight perceived and known opponents.

Of late, the country has since the 2013 elections witnessed a growing trend of cases of political violence being perpetrated by youths and this is genuine cause for alarm especially as itcomes at a time the country’s economy is on a continuous downward trend with youths in the country staring a very bleak future.

Events in Zimbabwe over the last years have proved beyond reasonable doubt that  as youths, we stand to suffer more from consequences of a volatile political environment or a failed economy hence events that are currently obtaining in the country should serve as a wakeup call to all progressive youths that the time to fight for collective interests is NOW.

More importantly, Zimbabwean youths need to put aside petty political differences and fight for common good and this is only achievable through resisting political manipulation and activities that only serve personal interests of the political elite at the expense of national cohesion and development.

Inter as well as intra-party political violence, which has been mostly perpetrated by youths need to be condemned in the strongest of terms and we implore youths around the country to uphold the country’s Constitution which guarantees freedom of political affiliation as well as freedom of opinion.

Tolerance needs to reign supreme among youths as it is only through this thatwe can be able to confront our collective problems in a collective manner without being divided by petty political issues.

We believe youths have a critical role to play in the development of the nation and as such, they should ACT NOW for the good of the nation.

Government has since the 2013 election failed to deliver on its election promises and with the country sliding back to the 2008 political and economic chaos, CIZC calls upon youths to stand up and take their place in the democratization and development agenda of Zimbabwe.

Continued fighting and bickering can only to serve to divert us from the pressing need to collectively address our dire situation.

We abhor the dirty tactics by political heavyweights of manipulating youths to ensure their continued stay in power apparently at all costs.

As youths we should stand up and say NEVER AGAIN SHALL WE BE MANIPULATED.