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NewsDay

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Tsvangirai guns for youth vote

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MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai at the weekend said the country’s youths, who constitute more than 60% of the voting population, should register for next year’s general election, if they are to craft a bright future for themselves.

MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai at the weekend said the country’s youths, who constitute more than 60% of the voting population, should register for next year’s general election, if they are to craft a bright future for themselves.

By Stephen Chadenga

Addressing thousands of party supporters at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on Saturday, Tsvangirai said the culture of voter apathy among youths was defeating their hopes of a better Zimbabwe.

“As youths, you constitute more tan 60% of the population and it is, therefore, important that you go and register to vote,” he said.

“Unfortunately, 5% of you people (youths) go and vote and yet you expect that this regime (Zanu PF) would be removed.

“You should do self-introspection and ask yourselves what should we do in defining our future. Otherwise the majority of you will become old and die without ever working for yourselves.”

Tsvangirai said his party was committed to empowering the youths, as 20% of all political representation is reserved for the youths.

Analysts have said the youth vote is the key decider in the 2018 poll and any party with hopes of winning the election has to mobilise this group to cast ballots.

Youth pressure groups have often said, despite young people constituting the largest constituency of the population, they continue to be economically, socially and politically marginalised.

Critics have accused political parties of using youths as tools of violence and dump them after elections.