It is very sad that, 30 years after independence, our national leaders are still not aware of the importance of putting young people at the heart of national planning, but continue to live in the past where they boast of their exploits of yesteryear.
One great philosopher once said, We do not inherit the land from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. This should hold true for all progressive nations. But young people in our country continue to be ignored.
During the 2008 elections, youths were at the receiving end of violence and intimidation to such an extent that many of them fled their homes, especially in the rural areas.
Most young men and women were forced into bases set up by the Zanu (PF) regime, and characterised by massive human rights violations. Many were tortured and left for dead while young women and girls were raped with reckless abandon.
The violent 2008 run-off left many households headed by young people without breadwinners. Others were left with permanent disabilities.
As they prepare a road map for the impending elections, the leadership should recognise that youths are the leaders of tomorrow whose aspirations should be put first before any other selfish political ends.
It should also be known that an election organised on the wishes of a certain political class and not of the ordinary young man and woman of this country is a recipe for disaster.
Given the tension that exists between youths from the MDC and Zanu (PF), a road map that does not have the will to address this tension is as good as if there was none.
Young people must demand that the road map being crafted with the help of SADC recognises the crucial role they play in the political landscape of this country, and that it puts in place mechanisms that ensure that the impending election does not degenerate into a war and leave the nation divided as was the case in 2008.
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