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Youth economic empowerment: The panacea to effective youth participation in electoral and governance issues
Youth Forum
August 30, 2011

Youth economic empowerment remains one of the most effective ways through which government and other stakeholders can improve the participation of our youth in critical national processes such as electoral and governance issues. In a developing world that is increasing becoming one village, many governments, development agencies and other stakeholders contend that nurturing the youth and the younger generations and developing their capacity to effectively participate in national developmental processes is an important and integral aspect in realizing sustainable development.

This assertion is in line with one of the strategic objectives of the Youth Forum which is to facilitate youth economic empowerment. History and research by various players including the Youth Forum point to the fact that many youths in Zimbabwe and indeed other African countries are failing to contribute positively to national developmental processes and participating in electoral processes because of an acute level of impoverishment and economic disempowerment that compromises their ability to independently think and make decisions for themselves. It is this reality that many politicians, especially the elderly, exploit time and again as they easily manipulate the youth through token gifts and cash pay-outs in their pursuit for political power. This is fingered as one of the key drivers of political violence that is associated with elections in Zimbabwe and other African countries.

The Youth Fund as introduced by the Ministry of Youth Development, Indigenization and Empowerment is a noble idea but the manner in which it is being run leaves a lot to be desired. Youths have complained about how difficult it is to access the funds with stringent requirements that include collateral. It is mind-boggling how unemployed and economically disenfranchised youths are expected to own valuable items like houses and cars to use as collateral to access the funds. If the fund is genuinely meant for the suffering youth, the conditions for accessing it should be relaxed. With the Chiadzwa diamonds (presumably) churning out millions into the Government coffers, it only makes sense that the amount afforded to youths through the Youth Fund be increased to allow the youths to start meaningful and self-sustaining enterprises.

The Government must also assist the youths to establish enterprises that will become part of the value chain in different sectors, thus empowering the future generation and creating employment. This can be achieved through strategic interventions like providing technical training on starting and running a business to aspiring youths, ensuring that companies source a specified proportion of their inputs from indigenous entities as well as assisting youths in registering their enterprises in a hustle-free youth-friendly environment. This will contribute immensely in attaining the First Millennium Development Goal which aims at eradicating poverty and also in having a positive economic growth that is also inclusive.

History has shown that economically empowered individuals make it a prerogative to participate in governance issues as such issues have a direct bearing on the future of their economic emancipation and also instills a deep sense of patriotism in such individuals.

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