A Bulawayo political pressure group has called for the reduction of the age limit for legibility to contest for the post of president.
The law in Zimbabwe stipulates that one has to be at least 40 years to qualify for presidential candidature. Matabeleland Constitutional Reform Agenda (Macra) wants the age limit reduced to 25. Addressing guests at the commemoration of the Day of the African Child last Thursday, Macra director, Effie Ncube, said the country’s future lay in youths, hence the need to re look at the age entry point for presidential candidates.
“The age for qualifying for presidency is too high. Why 40? Why not 25? It is time to decide our legal age of majority,” Ncube said. “Youths need to fight for what they want and know the opportunities at their disposal and make use of them.”
The commemoration, held at the Bulawayo Theatre under the theme “All Together for Urgent Action in Favour of Democracy and Sustainable Peace in Zimbabwe”, was organised by the National Youth Development Trust.
Ncube said it was important for youths to be empowered and to engage in the constitution-making process and in issues to do with leadership.
“We need to ensure that all provisions are sufficient to guarantee free and fair elections and that those who lose will leave their offices and let those who have won move in.
This can only be possible if young people participate. Youths need to lobby strongly and make comparative analysis on key issues that they believe in.
“There is still room to make our voices heard and because personal security is enhanced by the Constitution, we need to ensure that there is a comprehensive Bill of Rights dealing not only with civil and political rights but also with socio-cultural and economic rights,” he said.
