Reports that suspected Zanu PF youths on Sunday — last week — allegedly grabbed Bulawayo City Council’s share of the proceeds from the Bob89 Super Cup first-leg soccer match played at Barbourfields Stadium in Bulawayo are disturbing.
NewsDay Editorial
Such uncouth behaviour by the youths, in full view of law enforcement agents, is an indictment of our political leaders, who are leading young people astray. Political parties are leading the youths away from one fundamental aspect of community relationships—respect.
There is no doubt that respect forms the core of peaceful co-existence among people.
To respect is to honour and show consideration for others — directly the opposite of inconsiderate behaviour exhibited by the young people who were left to go scot free after snatching council’s money last Sunday.
It is incumbent upon us to teach the young people that it is everyone’s moral obligation to honour the essential worth and dignity of other individuals.
It is only when people understand the worth and dignity of others that evils such as humiliating others and political violence are eradicated.
It is the moral obligation — particularly of political parties — to teach the youths to put themselves in other people’s shoes before they act.
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It must be hammered into these youths that we are not expected to agree with everyone, but we have a moral obligation to treat everyone with respect, regardless of who they are and what they have done.
Today, we have a crop of some of the most disrespectful youths in the world. This is manifested through their perpetration of violence against fellow youths and elder members in their communities.
We should stop blaming the youths, but look at the source of their orientation towards such behaviour. All fingers point to political parties that manipulate these young minds to be tools for their evil deeds.
Our rowdy young people no longer have the word respect in their vocabulary. They have the false notion that the world is indebted to them and they can do as they please. They are being encouraged to falsely believe that respecting other people is the greatest sign of weakness.
We need to understand that this is not only dangerous for the current generations, but for the future ones too. Politicians should, therefore, introspect and rethink about the issue of respect for others, including the innocent youths they are turning into monsters.
The young should be taught to live harmoniously with others and the basis for this teaching should be the need for respect.
