Both the MDC-T and Zanu (PF) are courting the youth. Despite the fact that both parties are still to declare their election manifestos, the campaign mood has gathered momentum. But experts say that elections are not an event – rather a process. So naturally both major parties seem eager to have a head start.
Zanu (PF), in particular, has taken a jump start in the process – and its target is undeniably the youth. In a secret document that was leaked earlier this year, the former ruling party acknowledged that the urban areas and the youth were its Achilles heel.
With Zanu (PF) still in control of all electronic media, as well as the lions share of the print media, it has been easy for it to dominate the airwaves. Jingles and songs that target the youth are played every 30 minutes. In one video, a slang-speaking Mugabe tries to be a teenager again!
Urban grooves musicians such as Sani Makhalima have been roped in to try and capture the urban youth. They sing songs that exalt Mugabe and project him as the person the partys youth league wants to be president for life.
However, in as much the control of the youths is paramount, the involvement of this particular group in the countrys troubled past elections has been far from pleasant. They have routinely been used as hooligans and have also fallen victim to the dastardly acts they have been forced to perform. In the absence of meaningful national healing, many youths are still traumatised by the hideous acts they were forced to do in order to save the political life of certain politicians. MDC-T lost youths like Gift Tandare because of political violence.
The Zimbabwe National Association of Students Union (ZINASU) recently said youths should demand a quota in parliament and refuse to be used as foot soldiers.
Youths have been used by political parties in order to pursue selfish agendas. They are used but do not get anything. In 2008 we as ZINASU were the foot soldiers but have not benefited from the Government of National Unity, said ZINASU President Obert Musarara.
Parliament is composed mostly of old people. The MDC may claim to have some youthful ministers, such as Information Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa and the Deputy Minister of Youth and Economic Empowerment, Tongai Mathuthu. But the list ends there.
And because of the militant style of Zanu (PF) youths epitomised by the Border Gezi-trained militias, commonly called the Green Bombers, many youths shy away from getting involved in politics. The recent Constitutional Outreach meetings proved the aversion of young people to national events. Youths, demographically the highest portion of the population, represented the lowest number of participants.
Claris Madhuku, Director of Platform for Youth Development Trust, said the low participation of youths in the process signified their despondence and disillusionment as they fail to get jobs and many are forced to drop out of secondary education.
The Youth are the engine of the next elections and without them the election would be discredited. Unless something serious happens, the young people feel that there is nothing for them in this election save for them to be used to butcher each other and their innocent neighbours and parents, said Madhuku.
To a greater extend the next plebiscite will be determined by the vote of the young people between the ages of 18 and 35. Noticeably it is the young people who assisted the MDC to romp into victory in 2005 and 2008. According to Madhuku, Zanu (PF) lost polls in the past because it has failed to attract her age group. It must be noted that this age group is critical, not only because it forms the majority of up to 60 percent of the active voters but also because it contains the much needed energy capable of influencing the voter, she said. MDC-T Youth Assembly Secretary General, Solomon Madzore, said his party appreciated the importance of the youths and has already started holding youth forums in order to mobilise this section of the electorate.
As the future of this nation we are sure that the youths will win the elections and we have a comprehensive plan where we devised ways in which we can communicate with the youths whose participation in elections has not been encouraging. We are aware that Zanu (PF) is using ZTV to get to the youths – something which other political parties are not able to do. Because of this constraint we have identified places where youths hang out and are planning appropriate strategies to reach them, said Madzore.
PYD and ZINASU are well aware of the ploy by political parties to use the youths and have called upon young people throughout the country to reject being used by politicians and stand up for their share. Both organisations feel that elections will only mean abuse of the group who are easy to influence because of their insecurity caused by a dearth in employment opportunities and general poverty.
Post published in: News