As government officials continue to fight for political space, we have noted with concern the continued manipulation of youths by those in the echelons of power as they try to achieve selfish political interests.
The recently introduced National Pledge is no exception to various programmes and policies that have been implemented by ruling party officials to indoctrinate and manipulate youths around the country.
If anything, it represents government’s continued digression from the pressing need to improve youth’s welfare through revival of the national economy which leads to job creation.
CIZC is concerned that instead of focusing on pressing issue in the country’s schools such as the need to revive and create infrastructure, improving teachers’ welfare among many other issues, government has turned attention to petty issues such as the National Pledge which merely seek to indoctrinate youths at a tender age.
School children, like many other youths around the country continue to bear the brunt of a failed leadership and for government to impose a National Pledge on them simply represents the absence of servant leadership in Zimbabwe and explains the continued plunder of national resources by those in the echelons of power while youths suffer in abject poverty.
It is no doubt that Zimbabwe has found itself in a dire situation manly because of the lack of an accountable leadership with President Robert Mugabe himself on record blasting his underlings for corruption and abuse of office and his latest revelations have been that US$15 billion diamond money has not been accounted for.
If anything, Zimbabwe’s leadership has proved failure to uphold the principles expected of an accountable and responsive government.
Corruption by authorities has been responsible for the fall in the national economy as corrupt leaders loot national resources for personal aggrandizement and given this context, Zimbabwe needs an accountable leadership that responds positively to the wishes of the general citizenry.
For a corrupt leadership to impose a National Pledge on suffering citizens is nothing but mere politicking meant go entrench their stay in power.
Zanu (PF) commitment to improving people’s welfare has just proved to be mere rhetoric hence any pledge to uphold the country’s values should start with the leadership who continue to push personal political interests in the name of protecting national interests.
CIZC calls upon youths to fight for common interests and resist manipulation by authorities.
Signed By: Build a Better Youth Zimbabwe, Youth Alliance for Democracy Trust, Youth Agenda Trust, Zimbabwe National Students Union, Students Solidarity Trust, YIDEZ, Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights, Achieve Your Goal Trust, Platform for Youth Development (PYD), Young Voices Network, Zimbabwe Youth Movement (ZYM), International Revolutionary League (RILFI), Katswe Sistahood, Institute for Young Women Devpt (IYWD), National Movement of Catholic Students, ZOYP, Youth Agrarian Society, COTRAD Trust, ZIYON and YODAN
Issued For and On Behalf of the CIZC YOUTH COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON: CLARIS MADHUKU- 0773 010 331
Post published in: Education