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The constitution and youth: Raw information
Youth Forum
June 05, 2012

The following is an excerpt on youths from the current proposed draft constitution. The idea is to assess and debate on whether the mention of youths in Chapter 2.10 of the constitution is enough to guarantee the young men and women of Zimbabwe certain privileges and rights in light of the fact that it falls under the National Objectives section, which does not outline obligations of the state, but mere objectives whose fulfillment is depended upon a number of factors, including willingness of those in power. The absence of the mentioning of youths in the Declaration of Rights, which is enforceable in a court of justice, is also seriously worrying as we the young people have not been guaranteed of basic freedoms and rights that we can fight for in the courts.

It is also worrying to note that the first leaked draft reserved seats for youths in the Senate and the National Assembly, and these provisions have been scrapped in the current draft, meaning the youths of Zimbabwe continue to be relegated to the peripheries of decision making processes and institutions.

In a bid to continually inform the youths of Zimbabwe on issues of national development and of interest to the youth, the Youth Forum will continue to provide further and detailed analysis of the draft constitutions, their content and the meaning to the average young man/woman on the streets.

Here is the only excerpt that 'addresses' youth concerns:

2.10 Youth

All State and governmental institutions and agencies at every level must take reasonable measures, including affirmative action programmes, to ensure that the youth, that is to say people between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five years -

(a) have access to appropriate education and training;

(b) have opportunities to associate and to be represented and participate in political, social, economic and other spheres of life;

(c) are afforded opportunities for employment and other avenues to economic betterment;

(d) have opportunities for healthy recreational activities and access to recreational facilities; and

(e) are protected from harmful cultural practices, exploitation and all forms of abuse.

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