Back to Index

Electoral Rights Indaba: Youth call for peaceful elections
Youth Agenda Trust
March 06, 2013

Youth Agenda Trust on Sunday 3 March held a one day Electoral Rights Indaba which drew youth from Harare Metropolitan Province coming from Avondale, Mt Pleasant, Dzivarasekwa, Highfields, Glen View, Mufakose and Zengeza West (Chitungwiza). The meeting was an eye opener to the youth most of whom clearly lacked knowledge on the electoral processes such as the electoral cycle and the rights of citizens in participating in such. Workshop facilitator Jack Zaba of the Election Resource Centre (ERC) shared knowledge and experience with the participants who also had time to look at how the preparations for the Kenyan elections were going and how young people in that country have been engaging with the electoral process. Trevor Murai of the Students Solidarity Trust discussed strategies that the youth may employ to ensure maximum participation in the forthcoming plebiscite.

Youth leaders from various political parties also took time to speak to the youth and explained how they were engaging their own political parties to ensure that the youth are not only encouraged to participate as voters but also as candidates. The youth were also told of the need to preserve peace and be ready to name and shame perpetrators of political violence. Speaking to the youth, MDC-T Youth Assembly president Solomon Madzore called on the youth to desist from the wait and see attitude and encouraged them to participate freely in the elections and shun all forms of political violence. Other youth leaders echoed Madzore’s sentiments and reiterated that it is now time for the youth to act.

The youth were later presented with certificates for participating at the workshop.

Visit the Youth Agenda Trust fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP