2013 is
upon us. Compliments of the season to you all beloved Zimbabweans.
The
year which has just started is a crucial year in the trajectory of Zimbabwe. The
country will go for historic elections and a constitutional referendum which
all have the true potential of transforming the fortunes of many especially the
young people in the country.
The
fact that the MDC launched a transformative economic policy blueprint JUICE –
Jobs Upliftment, Investment Capital and the Environment – gives every young
Zimbabwean from all corners the most pertinent reason to hope and further toil
for democracy and real change through the national ballot revolution, which
will be spearheaded by the Movement for Democratic Change Youth Assembly (MDCYA)
this year, 2013.
The
quasi-nationalist enemies of democracy are aware of this defining moment and
what it entails for their threatened political survival. More-so, they are
aware that the hoax of the command and control affirmative economic policies
such as the Indegenisation programme has failed to captivate the hearts and
minds of many jobless youth. These youths instead look up to a more holistic
approach to the Zimbabwe crisis and the MDC’s job creation economic focus
becomes the panacea to the needs of the young and the hopeful of the country.
The
MDCYA is displeased that these erstwhile plotters against real democracy and
change in Zanu-PF have started putting hindrances to free and fair elections.
In particular, they seek to discourage all young voters from participating in
the watershed elections and have started lining up inhibiting factors in place.
Violence
It is
now clear that the satanic violence machinery that has become synonymous with
ZANU PF election campaigns and which was used against the people in the 2008
elections have largely not been disbanded under the inclusive government and
actually intensified its operations as 2012 came to a close. The violence
occurred countrywide and shockingly involved the country’s supposed security sector
including our soldiers who went backing ZANU PF militia outfits such as Al
Shabab and Chipangano to name a few, despite the agreement between the GPA
Principals for a security sector reform that should have ushered in
non-involvement of the sector in civic issues which should see the country
living in peaceful coexistence.
The
ordinary young person remains at the vortex of the tsunami of heinous political
violence and possible frustration of midnight Zanu-PF pungwes. The MDCYA
defines political violence not only as the physical violation, but also
anything that even reminds our young cadres of the past incidences of such
political violence in Zimbabwe. An example of this reminder was the utterances,
which continue to be repeated, by the securocrats against free and fair
elections, or their outcome in case ZANU PF President Robert Mugabe loses the
elections, a loss which is assured and which we urge him to take gracefully.
We
remind these erstwhile people that the young person in Zimbabwe is ready to not
only vote in the coming elections against all odds, but to ultimately defend
the election victory.
Voter
Registration red tape
We are
disgruntled that there continues to be many hindrances for young people who
want to register to vote in the coming elections. These include unreasonable
neo-colonial demands by those who issue identity documents and deliberate
forgetfulness that many young people do not own dwelling units and cannot
always have proofs of residence. Young people constitute most of the first time
voters.
The
disenfranchisement of young people is obviously deliberate by Zanu-PF
functionaries. This will impact on the possibility of a free and fair election.
The disenfranchisement of the Zimbabwean Diaspora is also condemnable.
The
illegal detention of MDCYA cadres
We are
clear in our understanding that the continued detention of our five cadres in
the Glenview 31 court case is an instance of political harassment we strongly
believe they are political prisoners. For 19 long months Zanu-PF machinery
influenced the continued detention of our comrades at Chikurubi Maximum prison
and at Harare Remand, as they try to make the remaining five political
prisoners a ransom to gage progressive youth against mobilisation for democracy
and change. The trial itself has been a farce and based on unacceptable
allegations that our comrades murdered police Inspector Petros Mutedza yet the
testimony of his brother and father reveal shameful and tragic contradictions
which expose the State’s case as unfounded.
We
demand the immediate release of the remaining MDCYA comrades Yvonne Musarurwa,
Last Tamai Maengahama, Rebeca Mafikeni, Simon Mapanzure and
cllr Tungamirai Madzokere.
Security
sector reform
The
involvement of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) members in public violence
against MDC supporters – the case of the Samambwa attack exemplifies – and the
utterances by the securocrats make us renew and intensify our call for security
sector reform in line with the Global Political Agreement before the next
elections.
As our
New Year’s resolutions, the MDCYA announces that:
We will continue to call for all of the
above-mentioned barricades and more to youth participation in the next
elections to be removed;
- Support efforts by the entire MDC family and
our President Rt. Hon. Dr Morgan Tsvangirai to conclude the new
constitution and operationalise it before the next elections;
- Campaign for a YES vote at the
constitutional referendum;
- Intensify mobilization of young voters
across the country as we approach the elections, to register and vote for
President Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC as the only party which can create
jobs and genuinely uplift them.
We wish
you all our Zimbabwean Compatriots a Prosperous 2013!
Long
live MDC
Long
live the people of Zimbabwe
For and
on behalf of the young people of Zimbabwe
MDC Youth
Assembly National Spokesperson
Clifford
Hlatywayo
Together to end,building a youth with a difference.
