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Weekly update
National Youth Development Trust
August 30, 2011

Gwanda

National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) held the Arts for peace festival in Gwanda on August 27, 2011 at the Gwanda District Club. The Festival brought together artistes from Bulawayo, Gwanda and surrounding areas; these included Sithandazile, Protest crew, Ghetto Smurfs, GDA, Mgcini Nyoni among other artistes who scintillated audiences with informative artistic presentations. It ran under the theme "Youth Building Lasting Peace in Zimbabwe". The play 1983 and years after staged by the Protest crew was the main attraction and was applauded by the audience who said it was a precise depiction of what happened during Gukurahundi and proffered a possible way forward for Zimbabwe.

The play was followed by a plenary where young people took the opportunity to deliberate on peace building, echoing the sentiments that there is need to bring the perpetrators who were involved in the genocide to book. Concerns were raised regarding the Organ on National Healing which is expected to handle such issues but seems to be a ceremonial body with no clear policy. Various stakeholders who attended the event said it was commendable to see young people uniting through 'world class performances' of art to foster a culture peace. Youths were also encouraged to observe the need to cultivate and embrace a culture of unity and peace if they are to realize growth and development in their communities especially since young people constitute the bulk of the population in this country. Also present at the festival were civic society leaders. The participating artists also appealed for more such platforms, networking opportunities and assistance to enable them to market their work.

Bulawayo

As NYDT continues to mobilize youths to register as voters, focus group meetings were held under the theme Exploring avenues for youth participation in governance. Last week, a total of eight (8) meetings were held, four of them with a specific focus on why females are not effectively participating in key national issues. These were held in Nkulumane, Magwegwe North, Sizinda, Emakhandeni. During these meetings, it was highlighted that violence, lack of accountability among elected leaders, partisan public institutions such as the registrar offices and many other factors have made issues to do with governance to be unwelcome by the youths. Parents were also said to be playing a part in denying their girl children the chance to participate in governance issues as they are allegedly protecting them from disorderly youths who participate in politics.

However, voter mobilization is ongoing in these areas and the young people have pledged to make efforts to register as voters. Wards 2, 12, 20 and 23 saw youths committing themselves to register to vote despite the challenges. They said it was easier for those whose parents are owners of the houses where they stay because all they needed to do was to take their birth certificates with them. However, those with families that are renting said there was need for affidavits to prove their residence, a process some said made it inconvenient for them to register as and when they wanted to. Another challenge cited by some youths was that the registration points are too far from where they stay and would require them to commute. They added that they did not have the money to commute so that they can go and register. NYDT is continuing with encouraging youths to register to vote and to participate in key national processes.

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