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 21st century with 20th
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.
