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International Day of Peace
Youth Agenda Trust
September 21, 2009

The Youth Agenda Trust joins all Zimbabweans and the rest of the international community in commemorating the International Day of Peace. This day will offer young people from across the borders of Zimbabwe an opportune moment to reflect on the reign of state sponsored terror and organised violence that has haunted our nation since the attainment of independence era to date. It is disturbing to note that as we look back into our history young people have been abused into playing an active role as agents of violence, hatred and intolerance as mainly witnessed by the violence of the post 29 March elections. We saw young people being mobilised and coerced by the then ruling ZANU PF regime into unleashing violence, raping and murdering any perceived supporter or sympathiser of the opposition. We also witnessed youth militias setting up bases all over the country where they would forcibly conduct mandatory night vigils as they drummed up support for the ZANU PF regime in the boycotted 27 June runoff elections. It is with this background that the Youth Agenda Trust has welcomed the signing of the Global Political Agreement and the subsequent formation of the inclusive government. It was and remains our fervent hope that the inclusive government was going to be a vehicle for bringing about the necessary reforms in all the institutions and structures that have been placing young people in the vicious circle of violence.

However the Youth Agenda Trust remains deeply worried by the incomplete implementation of the Global Political Agreement as we have seen little or no reforms in institutions that have been influential in the participation of young people in political violence. For instance the enrolment process at the National Youth Training programme remains partisan whilst graduates from this same programme continue to be deployed across the country as youth officers whilst serving interests of ZANU PF. On the other hand The Ministry of Youth and The Zimbabwe Youth Council continue to conduct their daily business in a partisan manner in direct contravention of articles thirteen and fifteen of the GPA. The National Healing process has also become another stillbirth of the inclusive government as it has practically failed to come up with a model that ensures justice and reconciliation is attained. The recent spate of farm invasions which got endorsement from the President at the just ended ZANU PF Youth Congress bears testimony to the lack of commitment by some parties to the Global Political Agreement to a peaceful Zimbabwe.

The Youth Agenda Trust through its wide range of peace building and advocacy programmes will remain fully committed to working with young people from all political, social and economic walks of life in rebuilding our country which has been ravaged by a decade of polarisation and violence. We would also like to take this opportunity to call upon the principals to the GPA to remain true to their word and work towards a peaceful, prosperous and democratic nation.

Visit the Youth Agenda Trust fact sheet

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