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Youth Forum condemns violence which prevailed in Buhera during Susan Tsvangirai's funeral
Youth Forum
March 16, 2009

Youth Forum condemns in strongest terms the violence which prevailed during the funeral of Mrs. Susan Tsvangirai which saw ten homesteads being burnt to ashes, livestock being burnt alive and women and children being harassed on behalf of the targeted people.

This a clear testimony that the June 27 wounds and scars, a culmination of massive political violence which prevailed during this period are still fresh hence the need for a thorough national healing process.

It is naïve and indeed myopic to assume that speeches at rallies and burials condemning violence and preaching peace will cascade down to the grassroots to avert hatred and hurt between the erstwhile political rivals.

There is a serious need to bring to book all the perpetrators of violence, community driven peace building, conflict resolution and national healing as well as psycho-social support for the victims.

The wounds of Gukurahundi victims are also still very fresh simply because a political solution between ZANU PF and PF ZAPU was considered to be sufficient to iron out the differences between the former warring parties. Even to date the memories of atrocities which were perpetrated to the people of Matabeleland are still vivid. As Youth Forum we urge the speedy formation of a Truth, justice and reconciliation commission which will deal with these thorns in our flesh.

Development is not possible under the circumstances which we are in. If this crisis is not solved we risk experiencing the same challenges in the next elections. It is worth noting that the youths suffer most as a result of such anomalies considering that they are normally manipulated for paltry economic gains by heavy weight politicians to their behest as tools of political violence, youths are also main targets of violence, given the active role which they play in the political arena.

We therefore urge the government to give first priority to the empowerment of youths particularly females if ever they are serious with national development.

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