The role of youths in the political quagmire of Zimbabwe

I have been keen to unpack the role youths have in the historic political trajectory of Zimbabwe. The fall of Mugabe`s 37 year rule is but one historic event that will be booked in the texts of history. My appetite is the contribution of youths to this position. The landscape I will give will bring a lot of us to loggerheads as my lenses are not to please anyone but unpack our role in the history to be captured. We should understand that we have Youth-in-ZANU PF who were aligned to Doctor Amai. We should not forget youths from Civil Society. Our minds should not even forget various movements by youths spanning from Itai Dzamara to the unleashed movements. However, it is faithful to note that the factional politics of ZANU PF and unprecedented tackling of the succession issue is and will remain the primary cause of the end to Mugabe rule.


In ZANU PF youths have been the vehicle to ouster G40s enemies or perceived competitors to succession of the presidency. Whilst, the G40 was blended to be the faction of the Youths, I beg to differ. The leaders of this faction weren’t youths but were young compared to the rivalry faction Team Lacoste. However, the G40 had powers over the ZANU PF Youth league that had showed its support for Grace Mugabe through her elevation to head the Womens League.  The Youth League through the “G40 Enemies Firing Platform” was duped by staging Youth Interface Rallies. These rallies had nothing to offer for the youths. Instead of the president meeting up with the youths and hearing their views, G40s mouth Dr Amai took them as Enemies firing platforms. It was shocking that Dr Amai could lambast senior party officials calling for their firing.  Not surprisingly, the Youths called for the ouster of Emmerson Mnangagwa and seemed successful. As puppets, a press conference was held targeting the Zimbabwe Defence Forces comparing them with the Salvation Army.


Our opposition youths have shown less of their existence in the political quagmire. They have been the most silent youths the opposition has ever heard. Rather that endorsing a visibly sick Morgan Tsvangirai as their preferred presidential candidate. We do not have any off their role in the fight for youth emancipation.  The MDC youths have even failed to demand upholding of their party`s constitution allowing Tsvangirai to have more than two terms as the President. Common sense tells Tsvangirai needs a rest to fight the cancer without the political pressure and demands for the job. Instead of learning from succession trap which has befallen ZANU PF, MDC is in the same trail. The Youth wing is blind, but wants a single centre of power in Morgan Tsvangirai.


The independent Youth movements have been the most vocal in Zimbabwe calling for reforms and the resignation of Mugabe. Starting from ONE MAN Demo by Itai Dzamara who have been kidnapped and whereabouts not known to date. This followed the vigorous Tajamuka movement that led demonstrations against Mugabe regime. The Lumumba escapade from ZANU PF before his sex-tape was used to silence him but never backed down. We had the famous #ThisFlag by Evan Mawarire a movement that saw him eloping for his dear life. The UZ Students refused to write exams and called for the closure of the University and only to open after Mugabe resigns.


Now that Mugabe is gone, I hope youths will do a self introspection of the value of our inputs in the current discourse and what we want in the future. The current generation of youths need to step-up and be reckoned for shaping a better nation not for themselves but their grandchildren.