ZIMBABWE’S young people have just demonstrated something extraordinary.
Within days, they marshalled enough collective pressure on social media to force an international airline to respond to the plight of musician Baba Harare after his luggage went missing.
Thousands united behind a common cause.
Hashtags trended. Comment sections were flooded. The campaign worked.
It was a remarkable display of digital activism.
But it also exposed an uncomfortable truth.
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If Zimbabwe’s youth possess the power to compel a multinational corporation to act, why has that same energy not been directed towards issues that will shape their future for decades?
The enactment of Constitution Amendment No. 3 is arguably one of the most consequential political developments since the adoption of the 2013 Constitution.
Whether one supports or opposes the amendments, there is little dispute that they alter important aspects of Zimbabwe’s constitutional architecture.
Yet the country’s largest demographic — its youth — has largely watched from the sidelines.
This silence cannot simply be dismissed as apathy.
It reflects years of shrinking democratic space, economic hardship and fear.
Young Zimbabweans have grown up witnessing arrests, violence, intimidation and reprisals associated with political participation.
Many have concluded that speaking about politics carries risks that commenting on entertainment or sport simply does not.
That fear is understandable.
But fear cannot become permanent citizenship.
The greatest danger facing Zimbabwe is not merely political polarisation.
It is the gradual withdrawal of an entire generation from shaping the country’s future. When young people abandon public affairs, others make decisions on their behalf.
Constitutions are amended. Laws are passed.
National budgets are approved. Economic policies are crafted.
Leadership transitions are determined.
Politics does not stop because citizens disengage.
It simply proceeds without them.
Zimbabwe’s youth cannot afford to reduce their influence to viral campaigns while surrendering decisions that determine employment opportunities, education funding, healthcare, taxation, investment and democratic governance.
Politics is not only about political parties.
It is about demanding accountability, attending public consultations, questioning public policy, voting, joining civic organisations, monitoring Parliament and insisting that leaders honour constitutional principles.
Social media has already shown that young Zimbabweans possess remarkable organisational ability.
Imagine if that same discipline were channelled into voter registration drives, constitutional literacy campaigns, policy debates and peaceful civic engagement.
No political party should fear an informed youth.
An educated and politically conscious generation strengthens democracy because it demands better governance from whoever holds office.
Governments become more responsive when citizens are informed, organised and engaged rather than passive observers.
Young Zimbabweans also have a responsibility to encourage one another to participate beyond election periods.
Political education should not be left solely to political parties.
Universities, churches, labour organisations, professional associations and civil society all have a role in cultivating informed citizens capable of analysing public policy independently rather than through partisan slogans.
Equally, Zimbabwe’s political environment must become more accommodating of youth participation.
The ruling Zanu PF government carries a particular responsibility to demonstrate that peaceful political participation is not something to be feared or suppressed.
A confident democracy allows citizens to express differing opinions without intimidation.
Peaceful demonstrations, robust public debate and criticism of government policies should be viewed as democratic rights rather than security threats.
Young people should be able to organise meetings, express opinions and campaign for causes they believe in without fearing violence, arbitrary arrest or harassment.
Such guarantees encourage participation and strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.
The opposition also bears responsibility.
Young people are unlikely to become politically active if they do not see credible leadership, coherent policy alternatives and principled engagement.
Mobilising youth requires more than rhetoric.
It requires vision, organisation and leaders capable of inspiring confidence.
Zimbabwe’s future will not be determined solely by those currently occupying public office.
It will ultimately belong to today’s young people.
They will inherit the Constitution.
They will inherit the economy.
They will inherit the national debt.
They will inherit the consequences of today’s political decisions.
The lesson from the Baba Harare campaign is not merely that social media can recover lost luggage.
It is that Zimbabwe’s youth possess immense collective power when they choose to act together.
The challenge now is whether they will use that power only to celebrate entertainers — or whether they will also help shape the future of the nation they stand to inherit.