#IYD2016 -NSUKUZIMBI WRITES

Nsukuzimbi Dlame writes on International Youth Day and says:

They were young when they went to war. It was clear that abiding by the rules would not serve them any good. They got scattered all over the world, they left behind the sweet comfort of their lovers and dedicated their lives to strife and death. Some remained in the jungles while others made it back to reconnect with their countrymen.

This was not an easy time neither was it a merry affair.

On youth day, as the whole world agrees that youth are the leaders of today for a better future, where do we find ourselves as young people of Zimbabwe? This is a thorny question which may not go down well with many.

We find ourselves in a country with an alarming unemployment above seventy-five percent, we find ourselves in a country with low production and dependent on imports for basics. We find ourselves stuck in between a rock and a hard surface asking ourselves: who the devil farted on our land?

On youth day, I took time to speak to some youths on the streets, the submissions are chilling. Someone in some office is not doing their job is my conclusion.

As much as youths need to create a wealth of their own, it is the mandate of the government to provide skills, start-up resources and an enabling environment. I will not accept any submission that blames us the young people. This is because I have seen ancestors refuse to leave offices and expect to bring solutions in the 21^st century with 20^th century thinking.

The current government stands accused. The current leadership stands accused. They have not provided a stable space for youth to thrive for the better. They have crafted empty education curriculum which has become useless on the streets of Zimbabwe. The system has created a dependency kind of economy where as youths we know nothing in growth except being told we are future leaders.

They will blame sanctions. We will blame them for failure to demonstrate leadership and step aside allowing youths to lead themselves to their destiny.

The current uprisings are a sign that there is anger amongst the young people. This leadership must not wait until the country is governable. The leaders must not forget that when they fought Smith they were our age. We know the concepts of Mao which they read from. We know the origins of the AK47; we also know the routes and maps of our country.

Let the leadership not be fooled by our silence, we are an organized group which is not willing to be pushed over the cliff by our elders. As much as we are sober, they must not be drunk on us; we fear the curses that may come with their ageing blood. We are not ready to create a Somalia out of Zimbabwe; we do not want perpetual wars like those in other countries.

As we commemorate youth day, jobless as we are, hopeless as we are, poor as we are, broke as we are, let this be a reminder that we love our country as they did before now. Let them know that we believe and know that this country can be better than what they have created.

As a young person on this youth day, in August 2016, I look at my leaders, those who gave me enough English to read the unwritten script, I look at them and remind them that: I have read all your manifestos, I have read also your policies, I have read even the constitution. Every day I read the newspapers, those threats do not hold water, if you are real fathers of this nation; you must just be proud and stop threatening your own children. You roar from the kitchen knowing that your only protection is to set the hut on fire and go down with us. You know that if we reach for you, the world will call your thick slow running blood on us.

For now we shall control our tempers for we know it’s all about to dawn for the darkest hour is before sunrise.

We flood other countries, we run away from our very own…if embarrassment exists, let it pay you a visit.

As we embark on a road to 2030, by which I will be forty-three years, most of will have faced nature, but just take it to your hearts my leaders that in between we won’t be sleeping, we will be claiming spaces and making sure that the constitution protects everyone and that Zimbabwe becomes once what it was and should be: The Switzerland of Africa.

Happy Youth Day Fellows, hope all actions added value to our being. Linkundla remains that platform of consciousness.