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New Age Voice Issue 17
Youth Agenda Trust
July 28, 2011

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First time voters key to societal change

Young people have been warned to be wary of being ambushed into early elections by politicians and have therefore been urged to ensure that they are registered as voters and not leave anything to chance.

Despite the fact that youth form the bulk of the Zimbabwean population, it is a matter of regret that most of them have always been found napping in key national processes such as elections where most of them have not been able to vote because they are not registered.

Following efforts by various civic society organisations in conscietising youth that voter registration is an on-going process and not a once off thing as many have been made to believe, deliberately or otherwise, some young people have already started to respond positively.

An increased number of young people in different districts of the country have been visiting the registrar general. s office where they have been met with mixed fortunes. Almost half of the youth who were interviewed by The New Age Voices in Murehwa, Wedza, Makonde, Lupane and Tsholotsho said that they have been able to register themselves as voters whilst almost the same number was turned away for various reasons.

Although SADC has poured cold water on maneuvers by some politicians to force through the holding of elections this year, youth leaders have remained skeptical of the former ruling party.s sincerity to adhere to the regional bloc.s recommendations.

The politicians have seized every given opportunity to daringly declare that elections will be held this year without fail despite rebuke by SADC who say that elections can only be held in line with the roadmap that was crafted in Livingstone, Zambia and endorsed in Sandton, South Africa.

The voter registration process has always been kept under tight wraps by the government which has failed to properly and adequately carry out voter education especially among young people who constitute the bulk of the Zimbabwean population.

The deliberate blackout on the exercise has been attributed mainly to fears by some politicians of losing national elections because of their known black past and unattractive manifestos which do not identify with young people's day to day struggles but with their violent nature of their rigid leadership and its passive membership.

Voter registration is conducted by the Registrar General's office throughout the year. The majority of the Zimbabwean population is made up of youth who constitute over 60 percent but what is surprising is that they make up the smaller percentage of the voter.s roll.

Youth have the keys to decide elections and they have the answer to solving the problems that are currently bedeviling the country. Their vote is crucial. For someone to be able to register to vote, one must take with him/her their national identity documents as well as proof of residence to their nearest Registrar's office. It is an ongoing exercise which means that anyone can be able to get registered to vote anytime during weekdays. Contrary to popular thinking among many that the process is only open prior to elections, the process does not stop. SADC, through its mediation role has drawn a roadmap which is expected to eventually usher in a new voters roll which will give young people an opportunity to register as voters.

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