MDC Youth Assembly beginning of Year Statement

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.