ZANU PF`s Youth political participation remains a farce

Political participation is and remains a critical component in youth development for the betterment and sustainability of the future. As a youth I have been following the political debacle in ZANU PF since the 2014 youth conference. The role of youths in this political vehicle has been reduced to mere consultants hired when required, dumped when done and the purpose hangs around violence and intimidation. It is a mere situation when youths are no different to a used condom awaiting its destiny of nothing but being dumped.

The independence of youths in ZANU PF in her history saw robust proponents of socialism through the likes of Tongogara, Solomon Mujuru, Moyo, Zvobgo, Nkomo among others. These stood by policies and principles not shaken by power or finance. These are the firebrands that saw ZANU's victory in 1980. Mandela at one time was radical, the ANC policy was not to engage any other races in the movement. At that time it was profound to stand by principles.

Well, those are the youths of the past, well educated like most of us but all employed unlike us. These youth were financially stable and had the principles in their mind. The end game was their dream. A dream of liberation. Who knew their liberation was their not ours. The settler or white regime had given them a conducive environment to amass personal resources through work, so they became powerful and independent to push their dream.

Whether its by coincidence that they have financially crippled youths of today by killing merely all employment avenues or not has been working to their advantage. Signs of economic empowerment of youths was seen through the powerful student union that could take the streets for anything. Unlike today when bellies are empty, christianised to live like birds that live from hand to mouth, worrying less about tomorrow.

Vote buying painted the corridors, rooms and vicinity of the Rainbow Towers as the elective congress was underway. Papers quoted more than 200 000 was transacted. Despite having 200 000 in circulation most of the delegates reportedly went to bed after taking air pies. Sadly, these were the majority. They were merely forced to fast for a better outcome while the minority harvesting from the bulk money dined and wined and
made merry. Miraculously the information found its way to the papers. However, this for me defines the level of seriousness the leadership takes on the youth league. ZANU PF cares less for its youths and the youths care less of how they are treated. The league owns nothing to its coffers to even look after itself. The majority are living below 1.25 per day, thus cannot make any financial contribution other than membership fees.

When I look at ZANU PF and vote buying its like seeing rick flair pocking eyes of the rival. Vote buying is fair, not fair for those that loose. The youngsters who got into power saw themselves at the indication of suspension. The first case was of Gomwe who sought mercies under the wings of Dr Amai Grace at the airport. The drama heightened earlier by Temba hitting on Gaygansters. The strategy by Gomwe worked but not for him and other suspended cdes. The politburo issued a statement that no one will be suspended till
Congress. Then end game was to create basis of support from the youths and label everyone their foe. From the underground funded conference that saw Robert Mugabe over donating milk and maize stunning an individual with tonnes of raw food. Then came Dr Amai at the rescue of youths strengthening her ndorsement to the powerful women's league position. The hatchet between Gomwe and Midzi could habe subsidized after the Harare Unity Accord facilitated by Dr but between Dr and Midzi it wasn't. Gomwe failed the peacemaker task. Instead he jumped ship and supported the ouster of his former boss. Boss they say.

Peeping on decision making consistency, the youths were dead silent when the BigBrotherEviction syndrome ripped off the system that had saved them. He decision that no more suspensions will be done died as they became targeted to merely all provincial chairpersons accused of fanning factionalism and more. The sad thing is that youths were the only beneficiaries to this politburo decision which lasted less than a month but three months or so before Congress. The youths should have questioned leadership on consistency and demanded rescinding of all suspensions. Alas they are not paying the piper, more so they themselves cannot play. So the piper was in charge. In some cases like Kaukonde and Mliswa saw the paid violence and intimidation of youths. 

The serious cases were the manhandling of wives of accused husbands. In these proceeding Oppah coloured as fighting gender based violence, fainted in dance as women were violently harassed by youths. The ZANU PF government promised these youths 2 million jobs though the much celebrated ZimASSET, but have evidently showed that creating employment is the least of their worries than consolidated political power using the youths as noise makers for ushering votes of no confidence and staging violent demonstrations yielding no improvements on their livelihoods. 

ZANU PF has learnt from history that an empowered membership can drive the party from their whims and fancies thus need to disenfranchise them. The most problematic group is youths that quickly resorts to abrupt radical strategies and ZANU PF leadership will have their way when they remain the one paying the piper and let youths drown in poverty.

Well the bible say my people will perish for they lack knowldge. Thus young Zimbabweans will perish for not utilizing knowledge. They should not be like condoms used for personal desires but stand as the present and future development partners of ZANU PF.