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Youth Electoral Bulletin - Issue 2
Youth Alliance for Democracy
March 18, 2011

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A centenary of struggle

Cry beloved young women cry - A special feature for the International Women's Day

Equal access to education, training and science and technology: Pathway to decent work for women

Young women continue to drown in the doldrums of marginalisation and its consequences namely poverty, limited or no access to meaningful participation in national issues and vulnerability to multiplicity of diseases and as such their life expectancy continues to dwindle more than their elderly counterparts. The advocacy around issues of empowerment are benefiting the few already 'strategically positioned women' who are mainly those aged 40 and above as evidenced by the composition of women in decision making bodies such as houses of assembly and cabinet. The 50-50 representation in parliament being catered for will not benefit young women much if the stated trend is to continue. Obviously the meaningful involvement of young women will not materialize suddenly if it is not advocated and lobbied for now. Of the 19 percent of women in decision-making bodies, Sub Sahara Africa, only 2 percent are below the age of 40 reveals a 2009 United Nations Human Development Index report.

This situation only testifies that some women are biting cakes which are too big for them at the expense of the rest of marginalized groups with specific categories of under-privileged women who are the majority. In most cases the elite women speak on behalf of all the women despite necessarily being acquainted with the challenges confronting them and the copying strategies. This results in the top-bottom approach where ill-conceived and ill-planned solutions are prescribed to young women, who in most cases might not require such a reaction to their challenges. The fact that there is no desegregation as to how the 50 percent for women in representation will be distributed leaves a lot to be desired. It leaves those strategically position jostling for posts to the disadvantage of the more downtrodden and majority, the young women below the age of 40. The plight of the disabled young women, rural dwellers and majority groups remains unsolved. A scenario where those in these disadvantaged situations get access to fight for their well-being is the best sustainable remedy to the challenges they face. Let's imagine a situation where a young woman living with HIV articulating on her challenges with regards to stigma, economic challenges and/or romantic life, prescribing what is best for her. Contrary to that in all media spaces and capacities there is just a chorus sung from the same hymn with the same voice. This is a total disfavour to the young women's fraternity.

Most of the programs which are carried out by old elite women 'on behalf' of their underprivileged counterparts lack sustainability and the monitoring and evaluation is only based on gatherings made courtesy of conferences, workshops, meetings, you name it. This becomes a service delivery for the sake of doing it, when most women would have not benefited as conceptualized. Such kinds of programmes only benefit and further upgrade the few organizers and nothing much comes the way of the mentioned downtrodden group. The marginalized groups continue to praise sing those in positions of authority and men take advantage of such pandemonium to use such women as mediums to effect whatever policies they want to women. This becomes the case of indirect rule by men, hence the status quo whereby men call the shots continues unabated.

Some women also surprisingly take an active role in inciting violence when their counterparts are the main victims of such evil acts, an example which quickly comes to mind is the Mbare Chimurenga Choir made up of fifty women. Their jungle 'VaMugabe vanofamba nemamonya' (Mr. Mugabe enjoys the company of hired thugs) does not only perplex the minds of any person of average prudence but disillusions, as to why they decide to obtain such cheap popularity. This really proves how some women have accepted enslavement at the hands of men.

In the wake of such scenario the prescribed solution to women is to also take an audit as the balance of representation within the stated human specie. There is nothing wrong with disturbing leadership posts along interest groups such as the physically challenged, the young and the minority groups. In a women's assembly/league why would one region dominate everything when it is assumed that it is a national organ of a political part. There must also be advocacy around catching them young, for example that popular episode of toys whereby boy child is recipient of car toys and video games when a girl receives dolls and utensils. Such awareness should be done. There is also a critical women group namely single mothers, normally they are left out in youth programmes and at the same time, they are either left out or stigmatized in mainstream women's programmes. There must be a vibrant organisation for such a group for it is a reality that they do have many challenges just like any other marginalized group within the women's fraternity.

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