PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has spoken out against corruption, yet he does not walk the talk and this has hampered concerted efforts to attract meaningful investment into the country.
Mnangagwa promised action, but to this day Zimbabweans are still waiting for him to act. All he has done is reshuffle ministers implicated in shady deals. Mnangagwa should know that these piecemeal stop-gap measures are unhelpful to the country and his actions seem to be endorsing high-level graft in government.
Ironically, Mnangagwa has for five years now claimed that if he is provided with evidence of dishonesty on the part of his bureaucrats he would crack the whip, yet from his track record, it is clear he is either unwilling or unable to tame the sleaze.
Several ministers have been implicated in corrupt activities and when presented with such evidence, Mnangagwa has instead demanded loyalty.
It is correct to state that what is retarding progress in Zimbabwe is not Western sanctions but top leadership inertia in dealing with venality.
Honestly, Zimbabwe is being held back by the greedy elite who are benefiting from the status quo.-Citizen
Youth must be active in electoral processes
THE Zimbabwe Election Support Network (Zesn) joins the nation in commemorating the National Youth Day and calls for active participation of youths in electoral processes in line with section 67 of the Zimbabwean Constitution. The National Youth Day, established to recognise youths and their contributions to different areas in the country comes at a time when the country is preparing for the 2023 harmonised elections.
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While the youths are an important demographic group in the country constituting 67,7% of the total population, their participation and representation in key governance processes remains low due to lower voter registration and low turnout during polling. Zesn thus, implores youths to exercise their constitutional rights through taking part in voter registration as well as in participating in various electoral processes peacefully.
The network, reaffirming the principle of inclusivity and participation by all especially young people as is enshrined in the Constitution for all electoral processes, reiterates the importance of fostering an enabling, level-playing and safe environment for youth participation in electoral processes as well as political spaces. It is critical to open up these spaces to young people to take part in electoral processes as candidates, observers and electoral workers among other roles key to the democratic processes of Zimbabwe.
Further, Zesn welcomes the institutionalisation of the youth quota in the National Assembly to enhance their participation in democratic governance processes as this is something that the youth had been lobbying for since 2017. However, there is need for the government and political parties to adopt the 25% threshold as outlined in the national youth policy, to ensure representation of youths in all public office and leadership positions from the grassroots going upwards for example village, ward and council to national level. The network also calls on the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs ministry and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to consider lowering nomination fees for youths to enable them to participate.
Youth participation in political and electoral violence has a negative effect on their political, economic and social inclusion. They are often coerced by the political leadership to play a role only limited to mobilising and in some cases perpetrating acts of violence to further their leadership’s interests.
On the other hand, the youth have also been victims of political violence, hence, there is a need for conflict management and tolerance of divergent views ahead of the 2023 plebiscite. Zesn urges youths not to allow themselves to be used in violence in the coming elections.
Dynamic development and adoption of new technologies presented through the usage of a vast array of social media platforms has improved the way people communicate and share information. This has meant to a great extent, the empowerment of youths, a milestone which this National Youth Day seeks to celebrate as youths are not only empowered but given a chance to innovate, availed with different opportunities, get more information and understanding on the importance of voting as well as interact with other different voter education material.
However, Zesn is saddened by the levels of improper usage of social media to misinform, disinform citizens regarding electoral issues and to character assassinate through hate speech and derogatory comments. These are crimes the youths have committed and or fallen victim to, which in turn has led to youth voter apathy and disinterest in leadership positions.
Zesn urges young people to uproot vices such as drug and alcohol abuse, violence and the abuse of social media that threaten their existence as responsible citizens, limiting their full participation and positive influence in electoral processes which in turn erodes trust, credibility and slows the democratic momentum of the nation. The network reiterates the call for youths to foster peace and not to allow themselves to be used to cause violence in the coming harmonised elections.-Zesn
International observers will give credibility to our elections
I BELIEVE that the decision to have internationally-observed 2023 harmonised elections that are in line with regional and international best practice no longer lies with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.
This must now be a national and collective decision for every Zimbabwean including all the opposition parties. It does not take an Albert Einstein to note that Zimbabwe is a failed State and that the general population has been suffering for a long time. Many of us are aware that our elections are manipulated and rigged.
Our government has failed us. Any rational and right-thinking leadership responsive to the needs of the people would have resigned in shame. The need for an internationally-observed election is indisputable and the people are determined to ensure such is fulfilled. We demand this! We expect this! Opposition parties must put aside their selfishness and pathetic wrangling and unite to push for this. Anything that falls short of complete fulfilment of all legal electoral processes must be rejected nationally, regionally and internationally.
Enough is enough. Wake up Zimbabwe moreso those who call themselves the opposition.
Stand up and be the men and women who champion change for the Zimbabwe we all want.-Concerned
