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The New Age Voices Issue 35
Youth Agenda Trust
October 25, 2012

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Constitution Conference: Youth re-affirms position

Young people took their constitution fight to the COPAC second All Stakeholders Conference that ended on Tuesday as they sought to assert their position in the draft constitution that was prepared by the constitutional body.

Youth say that although the constitution has managed to progressively capture the youth issues in a progressive way, there are some grey areas that need attention if the constitution is to effectively address all youth concerns.

The youth say that the constitution in its current form failed to promote the effective participation of young people as well as to ensure that they assume positions of leadership. The draft constitution states that "young people have to be represented," a term which they say is subjective and fails to appreciate that young people can effectively represent themselves and others.

Young people came up with a position paper at the civil society stakeholders conference that was organised by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) that was meant to interrogate the draft constitution and develop a communiqué that CSOs took to the COPAC All Stakeholders Conference.

The Youth proposed that:

• There be a quarter system for youth that guarantees them representation in all positions of leadership.
  50 percent representation was unanimously agreed.
• There is a need for a deliberate effort to empower young people. This provision should be clearly stated in the constitution.
• A youth Commission must be established to forward the concerns of young people in Zimbabwe.
• The constitution fails to promote the effective representation of young women in the positions of leadership hence at least 50 % of the 60 seats reserved for women should be meant for young women and that issues of reproductive health be stated clearly so as to protect young women.

The youth said in as much as they did not actively participate in the consultative stage due to the nature and form of the consultation process, the draft constitution presented some opportunities that the youth should take advantage of.

Young people said that unlike other groups like women and the disabled, the youth are not mentioned in the Bill of rights and called for the unconditional inclusion of the young people's issues in the Bill of Rights which can be easily claimed in a court of law which should also include the integration of social and economic rights.

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