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Youth participation crucial for credibility of Zimbabwe's next election
Youth Forum
January 27, 2012

The positive and complete participation of the country's youth will be pivotal if the next election in Zimbabwe is to be credible. In the past the youths' energy has been diverted towards negative contribution to the electoral process and they have become infamous and synonymous with the violence that has become part of the DNA of previous elections in Zimbabwe.

The Youth Forum notes and is concerned that youth participation in previous elections has been dismally low and highly negative. According to a study commissioned by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) in April 2010, only 18% of the currently registered voters on the voters' roll can be classified as youth (18 - 30 years). This figure is quite shocking considering that Zimbabwe is generally regarded as a youthful population with over 65% of the country under the age of 35 years.

Contrary to the above figures which point towards an apathetic youth towards civic and political processes, young people have actually been a crucial factor in many elections that have occurred in the past. Due to the endemic shrinking of space for political participation by an elderly ruling elite, bend on perpetuating their stay in power, the energy and eagerness of young people to participate in the electoral process has been systematically channeled towards peripheral roles.

It is common knowledge that previous elections in Zimbabwe have seen young people competing with their mothers as praise-singers of elderly politicians at political rallies during electoral campaigning periods. Nefarious politicians have gone on to drug these youth and coercing them to perpetrate gruesome acts of violence against real and perceived antagonists and rivals of these politicians. Youth militias and vigilante groups have become synonymous with elections, and this trend was quite evident in the run-up to the sham June 27 2008 presidential run-off election, whose result we all know later culminated in the animal we call the inclusive government today.

The Youth Forum avers that for as long as the energy of young people is diverted towards such peripheral and negative roles in the electoral process, we will continue to have discredited elections in Zimbabwe. We continue to emphasize the need to have meaningful participation of young people in the electoral process as a precursor to building a robust citizen response and participation in the governance process - in allowing the citizens to have the final say on who governs them through regular, free and fair elections.

Given their demographic dominance, it is through the participation of young people in the elections that Zimbabwe can truly realize democracy and a government that is truly representative of the majority.

As Youth Forum, we call upon all stakeholders to prioritize ensuring that the youth are empowered to take a leading role in deciding who governs them from time to time. We urge the government of Zimbabwe to be sensitive to the plight of many young Zimbabweans who are being frustrated in their quest to register as voters.

We would also like to urge the youths to take the first initiative towards voting, which is registering as a voter, the following are the types of registration available:

• Initial Voter Registration - any Zimbabwe citizen who is 18 years and above and has not registered before.
• Transfer Voter Registration - any registered voter who has changed residence.
• Death Registration - Relatives are encouraged to register the death of their deceased relatives to enable the office to remove them from the voters.

The following are the Requirements:

• A Zimbabwe national registration identity card (metal or polythene - synthetic or a legible national registration waiting pass with the picture of the holder on it; or
• A valid Zimbabwe passport. (A driver's license is not acceptable for registration purpose).
• Documentary evidence providing that the applicant is currently residing in the ward/ constituency in which registration is being done, such as:

For urban dwellers, the following documents would suffice:

• A certificate of occupation/ title deeds, or
• Lodgers permit/ card; or
• Rates/ Water statement in applicant's name; or
• Electricity statement in applicant's name; or
• Credit store statement showing the physical address of the applicant, in the respective ward/ constituency; or
• Written statement from landlord, parent or friend confirming the applicant's residential address accompanied by a house card, electricity bill, rates bill or any similar document in the name of the landlord, parent or friend staying with the applicant.
• Sworn statement by employer of applicant confirming applicant's address and any other information or document sufficient to ascertain the applicant's residence. While rural dwellers would need a confirmation letter from the chief, headman or village head, farm owner or mine owner.

All eligible voters are encouraged to visit their nearest registration center to register for first time or effect transfers. Your vote is your voice

Visit the Youth Forum fact sheet

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