Redeeming Zim’s lost generation
YOUTH development — in its psychological, social and moral dimensions — is an extremely vital component in the strategic developmental planning of any country.
The future of a country and indeed the world with all its complexities is hostage to the youth’s preparedness to meaningfully deal with difficult issues both at a local and global level that may confront them. Zimbabwe’s present is comatose and in order for the country to transition to a hopeful and progressive future, the youth have to be comprehensively capacitated so that they will be able to participate in all spheres of the country’s development.
It was Albert Einstein who said: “All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development accorded the individual”. This encapsulates the strategic need for human capacity development in order for a country to holistically realise its potential.
The past two decades, due to entrenched socio-economic and political crises, have presided over the creation of a “lost generation” in Zimbabwe’s youth population. This is a population of young men and women that is characterised by lost hope, broken dreams and extremely low expectations regarding their current and future prospects. They are those who are unqualified (academically) and those who have been disqualified by a non-performing economy and an incoherent system of governance. Overall, this youth population has been victimised by a reckless and paranoid political establishment that lost its moral compass years ago.
More importantly, a significant segment of this “lost generation” has been manipulated by unscrupulous politicians (in the two main parties: Zanu PF and MDCT) who have organised them into violent, cultist political enforcers on one hand and “smash and grab thugs” on the other. Contextualised, the emergence of the youthful terrorist organisation Chipangano did not come as a surprise. Through its modus operandi of extortion, rape, physical violence, thievery, this vile politically inspired terror organisation terrorised and traumatised the residents of Harare’s Mbare high density suburb with impunity and obvious acquiescence of its handlers who are located in the high echelons of the political establishment.
The organisation’s self-acknowledged leader is currently traversing the length and breadth of the country claiming to have “found Jesus”, as if Jesus’s preferred address is in hell. Only in a country that exists in an alternate universe does a self-confessed terrorist roam freely while innocent youths are arrested and jailed for inquiring about jobs from the president of the country at a university’s graduation ceremony.
Thankfully, the overwhelming majority of the country’s youth are law-abiding citizens who are yearning for opportunities that will improve their livelihoods while contributing to the country’s developmental aspirations in a positive manner. However, due to the never-ending crises in Zimbabwe, many of these young men and women have left and continue to leave the country in search of greener pastures, leaving behind a gaping leadership and skills deficit. Those left behind are angry, increasingly restless and represent a ticking time bomb that is waiting to explode and plunge the country into irreversible chaos.
The obvious remedy is job creation. But, employment opportunities alone without the necessary skills that will enable companies to be efficient and therefore competitive regionally, continentally and globally are a futile exercise. In addition to quality educational attainment and skills formation, the youth need mentoring and practice in leadership. Therefore, it is important for government and civil society to reset the youth development agenda in order to save the country from its self- inflicted decadence. Youthful zeal and imagination can be motivated to embrace innovation, technology, entrepreneurial leadership and moral rectitude, while being the muchneeded catalyst for positive change in a country that is stuck in a moribund existence. A focused effort should be directed at those young people who lack qualifications, to assist them with vocational training or other mentoring and training programmes.
Zimbabwe’s future economic growth prospects and political stability depend on the ability of its youths to become agents of positive change and progress. Self-centred politicians must cease and desist from embroiling vulnerable youth in a culture of entitlement and political violence in order to score cheap political points or to gain ill-gotten wealth (as demonstrated by the Chipangano terrorist organisation).
Continued neglect and indifference to the country’s youth aspirations will only bring further decline to a country that is already on its knees.