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Youth Forum to meet Parliament
Zimbabwe Youth Forum (ZYF)
November 07, 2007

The Youth Forum will this Thursday 8 November, 2007 lead a strong delegation of more than 50 youth leaders from across the country to meet the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Youth, Gender and Women Affairs at 1015hrs at the Parliament of Zimbabwe. This delegation comprises of 30 youths from rural areas and about 20 from urban setting.

The Youth Forum will seriously take this opportunity to articulate on the following issues among others:

• Give testimonies on the escalation of political repression across the country which has seen many young people suffer at the hands of the dreaded state securocrats through illegal detentions, assaults, beatings etc.
• Articulate on how the politically premised economic decline has worsened the plight of young people condemning them into undeserving penury. This has depressingly impacted on the participation by young people in political decision making. Unemployment is currently hovering at an astounding 80% and is immeasurably affecting the youth who comprise 67.7% of the Zimbabwe population.
• Put its weight behind the Portfolio Committee's recommendations to the government to disband the infamous Border Gezi Paramilitary Training Camps dotted around the country before the onset of elections next year. Alumnae of these paramilitary training centres have been observed to be at the core of political violence in support of the ruling party.
• Absence of an alternative media which has been exacerbated by the politically inspired Tafataona Mahoso led Media and Information Commission (MIC). This commission has presided over the closure of more than 5 newspapers since its inception. This has reduced access to information by most young people. The current state controlled forms of the media have been largely viewed as partisan and misleading since they always aim to distort public opinion in favour of the government of the day.
• The youths will capitalise on this opportunity to impress the Portfolio Committee on the urgent need of a people driven constitution.

This initiative is part of the on-going efforts by the Youth Forum to promote informed, significant and effective participation and empowerment of young people in political decision making, policy formulation, implementation, evaluation and development.

This meeting will culminate into a tour of the parliament building by the young people that will see them in the afternoon attending a live parliamentary session in the speakers' gallery listening to contributions from various legislators.

This event is a huge step in ensuring that young people especially from rural and other marginalised areas are incorporated and encouraged to participate in democratic citizenship processes.

The Youth Forum remains committed to creating a platform for young people to meet, discuss and debate issues pertinent to their enhancement as citizens, thus nurturing a culture of open dialogue as a means towards resolving the crisis that continues to engulf the country.

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