BY CLAYTON MASEKESA, recently in Nyazura
ZIMBABWEAN youths have been urged to take their numerical advantage to shape democratic processes in the country.
In an interview with this publication on the sidelines of a stakeholders meeting on youth participation in elections held at a local hotel in Nyazura last week convened by a local civil society organization, Conscious for Development Trust (CODET), the organization’s executive director, Vimbai Berete, said her organization has embarked on a voter initiative drive that is targeted at youths.
“We want to increase the number of registered young voters in Mutasa South and Dangamvura/Chikanga constituencies by 2023. This initiative will also be extended to the whole of Manicaland province,” said Berete.
She said the young people in Zimbabwe should shape their future by actively participating in electoral processes.
“Our target is one thousand first time voters registered through this initiative. We are also pushing for more women to register and vote. These will be called Mobilization Champions, who are the young people mobilized at ward level to ensure ownership of this project,” Berete said.
“The first time voter drive initiative is there to assist, allow, mobilize and engage the first time voters by empowering them to have a clear understanding of deeper issues affecting them if they are not registered to vote,” she explained.
Tavaziva Machiwana from Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) said youths must register in large numbers to vote in the 2023 general elections in order to safeguard and advance their interests.
“Despite constituting the biggest population, the youths continue to shun electoral processes. The youths are failing to take advantage of their large numbers to participate in the electoral cycle, which might change their future,” said Machiwana.
He noted that many young people in Zimbabwe were no longer interested in voting processes and have completely detached themselves from political activities.
“The youths have either lost their faith in the whole electoral processes. They do not see how their leaders understand the issues that affect their daily lives, making them feel like they are the last group the [politician want to talk to,” Machiwana said.
He said the use of influencers, social media platforms and advanced hashtags that encourage voter registration among the youth, will go a long way in ensuring that more young people register as voters.
Anesu Machikwa the chairperson of Developmental Agenda for Youths (DAY) said if youths did not participate in electoral processes their future would continue to be determined by the older generation.
“As youths, we have the numbers. Let us not wait to be given power, but, let us take power and vote for each other in various positions,” he said.
“Youths should actively participate in the electoral processes. They should register to vote, otherwise the older generation will continue to determine the future of this country,” Machikwa said.
CODET is a youth-focused registered community organization formed in 2013. It is a vocal advocate for emerging youth, women and children in Zimbabwe.
Its mission is to develop an active and self-conscious Zimbabwean youths who value responsible action for the transformation of society as a whole.
