The ballot box, in which so much hope was placed, has failed to turn around the catastrophy. Dry taps, rampant power-cuts, economic and political woes have become their daily bread.
Most notably, this is the generation of youths born in an environment where employment opportunities have remained a pie in the sky. In Zimbabwe a youth is any citizen under the age of 35.
Youths constitute between 60 to 70 percent of the 13 million country’s population. The United Nations pegs unemployment in Zimbabwe at a staggering 94 percent, despite government’s insistence that it is much lower.
Patronage
Opposition politics are strongly hinged on the young generation, referred to as the “Born Frees,” coined by Zanu (PF) to describe youths born after independence.
In a quest to maintain its tight grip on power, Zanu (PF) has created a patronage system that only benefits its members, including those in the youth league – although many are well over 35. The system includes employment, business funds, food distribution and many other benefits.
Party loyalists who retired from the security forces lead most parastatals and indigenised foreign-owned companies, who selectively employ only party members.
Charles Masache who used to work as a human resources manager a company owned by Zanu (PF) former legislator Fred Kanzama, was fired after the latter discovered that he was an MDC-T supporter. He has since relocated to South Africa where he is now gainfully employed.
Kicked out
Brighton Maphosa , who used to man the Gwinyiro Night Car Park in Area 13 of Dangamvura high density suburb, was kicked out by Zanu (PF) officials and replaced with party youths who are now in charge of the business.
Such have been the sad tales of youths in Zimbabwe who are forced to pledge allegiance to the ruling party in exchange for jobs. The unemployment crisis has been exacerbated by the fact that government parastatals and institutions, including the police, army and government ministries, are heavily occupied by workers past their retirement age in an effort to safeguard the party’s interests.
This has robbed the country of skilled human capital as university graduates are being forced into sell airtime, newspapers and vegetables as street vendors.
Mavambo/Khusile/Dawn president Dr Simba Makoni acknowledged this when he said “It is sad that the country has several universities and the graduates are now selling airtime and tomatoes on the streets simply because there are no jobs to talk about.”
Dark future
Makoni added that the spectrum of massive youth unemployment had darkened the future of Zimbabwe.
Another former Finance Minister, Tendai Biti, said the country had been reduced into a mere vendor economy owing to high levels of unemployment. “The levels of unemployment are very alarming and the youths are the most affected. We have been reduced into a mere vendor economy where even our graduates are now forced to sale various wares in street corners,” he said.
Prior to the 2013 polls, which opposition movements claim were rigged, Zanu (PF) promised to create over 2 million jobs under its economic blueprint, Zim-Asset. However, the promised jobs have not yet materialised.
The National Association of Non-Governmental Organisation has said that youth unemployment has serious negative implications on the normal societal set-up. “The effects of high youth unemployment include increased drug abuse, violence and crime, promiscuity leading to prostitution where they end up contracting HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections,” said Nango. It urged government to review the national youth employment policy and address the causes and challenges of youth employment.
Post published in: News