THE Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) last week joined Zimbabwe to celebrate the National Youth Day.
The Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day was first recognised as a public holiday on November 24, 2017 through Statutory Instrument 143 of 2017.
It is vital to examine the challenges encountered by Zimbabwean youth and determine how those challenges militate against the development aspirations articulated in the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1.
Some of the challenges encountered by youth are presented hereunder:
Drug abuse
There is no general consensus to the number of youth involved in drugs. Figures fluctuate between 53,8% and 57%, but what is clear is that over 50% of youth are victims of drug abuse.
At the same time, the World Health Organisations’ report titled Mental Health Among Young People in African Region states that Zimbabwe has the highest number of 15 to 19-year-olds in Africa who engage in heavy “episodic drinking”, at 70,7% among males and 55,5% among females.
The abuse of drugs and dangerous substances by youth has undermined national human capital and they account for over 70% of mental health problems in the country.
- Zim health system is in intensive care: How it got there
- The strange tale of China's loans to Zimbabwe
- Measles threat growing
- Take your child for measles vaccination
Keep Reading
Youth unemployment
The youth accounts for over 80% of the Zimbabwean population, yet they are the most marginalised and vulnerable group of the population.
The 2022 First Quarter Labour Force Survey Report by the Zimbabwe National Statistic Agency (ZimStat) concluded that 2,5 million youth between the age of 15 and 34 are unemployed.
Also, 1,5 million of the 2,5 million aged between 15 to 24 had a national expanded unemployment rate of 66%, while the national expanded unemployment rate for youths aged between 15-34 years was 57%.
The report states that rural areas accounted for 53% of the total unemployment rate while urban had 47%.
The findings of the 2022 ZimVac Report are in alignment with ZimStat findings as the report stated that 83,1% of the youth listed employment as their major priority.
School dropouts
Government’s allocation for the education sector continues to fall short of the 20% Dakar Education for all benchmark.
Education expenditure decreased from 16,5% in 2021 to 13,4% in 2022 and slightly increased to 14% in 2023.
School dropouts is rife in Zimbabwe with over 840 000 children having reportedly dropped out of school since the emergence of COVID-19.
In 2022, over 30 000 students failed to register for Zimbabwe School Examinations Council end of year examinations.
This is because examination fees had gone beyond the reach of the majority.
A United Nations Children’s Fund Zimbabwe Annual Report for 2021, 4,8 million children are in need of Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).
Child labour
Allegations have been levelled against emerging sugarcane farmers in Chiredzi over the use of child labour in sugar cane plantations.
On April 26, 2022, the Parliamentary Thematic Committee on Human Rights made a visit to Chiredzi, Mkwasine and discovered that approximately 300 children are working in sugar cane fields.
A report by Human Rights Watch in 2018 discovered that in tobacco producing regions, during the harvesting period, there were significantly higher rates of truancy from school classes, suggesting that parents were depending on their children for help with the harvest.
Absenteeism of primary and secondary school children has become the order of the day, making it difficult for students to keep up with their schoolwork.
From a rights perspective, children rights are violated on two dimensions; first on child labour, second, their right to education. - Zimcodd
Authorities must heed AfDB advice on free, fair elections
AUTHORITIES must take up the African Development Bank (AfDB)’s advice on free and fair elections.
Also to note is that electoral reforms must include diaspora vote.
The Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative would like to applaud AfDB president Akinwumi Adesina for encouraging authorities in Zimbabwe to make tangible progress on, among other things, “human rights protection, and implementation of the laws in line with the constitution”.
Adesina went further to call for “peaceful, free and fair elections”.
These measures will clear the path to arrears clearance and debt reduction.
Free and fair elections are those in which every citizen who is 18 years and above is given the opportunity to vote.
The right for Zimbabwean in the diaspora to vote was acknowledged by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who in 2018 announced that efforts would be made to ensure the citizens living abroad should vote by 2023.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Amendment Bill presents an opportunity for parliamentarians to make the necessary amendments to the Electoral Act to provide for diaspora voting.
The Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative encourages parliamentarians across the political divide to propose inclusion of the diaspora vote.
Item 1(2) of the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution of Zimbabwe specifically states that The Electoral Law may prescribe additional residential requirements to ensure that voters are registered on the most appropriate voters roll, but any such requirements must be consistent with this Constitution, in particular with section 67.
Government employees working at embassies already vote, and this should be extended to other citizens.
Zimbabweans living in the diaspora have contributed immensely to the economy as acknowledged by various senior government officials who include the President.
Enabling them to vote fulfils Mnangagwa’s wish for citizens based outside Zimbabwe to enjoy the same rights as enjoyed by their counterparts back home. - Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative
Byo municipal police must exercise restraint in flushing out vendors
THE Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (Viset) notes with concern the developments in Bulawayo central business district last week.
Of particular concern to us is that the skirmishes that took place were completely avoidable had there not been actions by a shadowy group and individuals claiming to have political influence.
These are the ones that have apparently appropriated themselves the allocation of stalls and receiving of payments, to the detriment of those allocated by the Bulawayo City Council (BCC).
The illegal traders have also allegedly been involved in the selling of illicit substances, this at a time when President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for a nationwide crackdown on the illegal sale and distribution of drugs and dangerous substances.
We acknowledge that the chaos obtaining at 6th Avenue had to be acted upon in order to restore sanity.
However, we appeal to the BCC and law enforcement to exercise restraint as some of our bona fide traders have been caught in the crossfire.
As Viset and, indeed, our sister organisations operating in Bulawayo, we commit to working within the confines of the law and co-operating with BCC to making sure that the splendour of the City of Kings and Queens is restored. - Viset
IN response to Mass police transfers raise eyebrows, PIKIRAYI says: It’s quite normal to have police offices being transferred, but then it raises questions particularly happening after they were commandeered to attend Zanu PF’s Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology.
IN response to BCC recommissions 2 supply dams, AARON MUMBA says: This is happening as Zanu PF needs another 40 years again to complete the much-talked about Zambezi water pipeline project.
IN response to Unmasking the legend of Mandebvu Films, BOSS NGONIDZAISHE says: I still remember me and my elder brother watching movies on a projector, no noise, just laughter only. It was lovely.
IN response to NGO comes to the rescue of spina bifida babies, TERRENCE VICTOR MUNYANYI says: It’s sad that the ruling Zanu PF party wants to ban non-governmental organisations. Surely a clueless leader is reigning over a doomed society.
IN response to Who is Zifa trying to fool?, JAPHET MARERE says: Strange enough, Zifa expects strict adherence to regulations yet it doesn’t respect those of the world football mother body, Fifa.
TENDAI JUAKE says: Sports and Recreation Commission chairperson Gerald Mlotshwa and his hangers-on have no pity for the affected football players. All talent going down the drain since November 2021 when Zifa was suspended by Fifa and Caf.
IN response to Byo grave diggers overwhelmed, JAMEST GILPIN TSHUMA says: We have a visionless leadership. It’s 2023 and the local authorities were supposed to upskill their workers and invest in tractor-loader-backhoes. It makes sad reading that some top council employees like to insult people who disagree with them.
SN WAMANXULUMA MBUYAZI says: It’s been years since Bulawayo has been burying quite a number of people who are dying everyday. Most of those dying are young people.
KANYENZE GIFT says: Zimbabwe has a young population. Let’s work on arresting the early deaths instead of just focussing on grave diggers. Let’s push government and local authorities to focus on provision of clean water, better waste disposal, better health care and then talk about grave-digging technologies.
