The Youth Inspirator

Transparency International defines civic space as “the freedom and means to speak, access information, associate, organise, and participate in public decision-making”. CIVICUS notes that “Civic space is the bedrock of any open and democratic society. When civic space is open, citizens and civil society organisations are able to organise, participate and communicate without hindrance.” The is common understanding that Civic space is based on three fundamental pillars namely (i) Freedom of Association, (ii) Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and (iii) Freedom of Expression. These freedoms are enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe stipulated as RIGHTS. For this discussion, Civic Space is the human environment which enables citizens to come together, share their interests & concerns and act individually & collectively to influence & shape their future. The Constitution of Zimbabwe was enacted by the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment No. 20 Act, which was gazetted as law o...

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 blen...

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission  (ZEC) has been nothing but a pre-21 century entity marred with patriarchal attitude and behavior that find youths as nothing but second class citizens. I have no sweet words for this institution as it has showed no remorse to the youths.   The behavior and precedence by ZEC has shown that it is careless for the participation of youths in its entire process. It is imperative that the youths constitute 47% of the voting population (RAU 2103) a significant population to participate in all electoral process. Gawkily they are not even ashamed that a paltry 8.87% was on the 2013 voters roll and seems doing well in keeping youths at bay.  ZEC has been established through the Constitution of Zimbabwe, amendment No.20 of 2013. Established as a commission supporting democracy, democracy is the will of the people by the people for the people. The youths called for the removal of proof of residence for the youths to freely take part in...