EDWIN MOYO
GWERU CITY- Gweru Residents Forum (GRF) has encouraged youths to actively participate in electoral processes and decision making processes as they constitute over 65% of the country’s population.
The call was made by GRF programs officer, Pretty Chabuda during a meeting with the youth from Gweru Urban.
“If you look back at our history, the youths have always been used as pawn for violence.
“This has seen the results of youths being used to spearhead violence instead of being peace ambassadors. Youths must take a leading role in peace building.
“We want to remove the perception of violence among youths,” she added.
NANGO Midlands Coordinator, Titus Mangoma said it was important for youths to be involved in formulation of policies in governance processes.
“Youths need to be involved in the formulation of policies. This is key in decision making as youths views are incorporated in active participation.
“The principle of inclusion is key as things cannot be done for us without us. Our voice must be head in all sectors of development.
” If we speak of people who must have a say in development issues, it is the youths, elections are credible and speaks sense if youths air out their views. We are a big constituent that cannot be ignored,” he added.
John Mazalo from said the tainted political history of the country was deterring youth participation in election.
“We have a bad political history as a nation. We are hopeless as young people because we don’t feel the need to participate in policy formulation processes and even in elections.
“History has it that youths are used in spearheading political violence, youths were given money and small tokens to be perpetrators of violences. Many cases of violence and bloodshed haunt youths who are used for dirty work by these politicians,” he added.
