Youth disenfranchisement a catalyst for voter apathy

„ YOUNG people are apathetic towards elections and governance issues, resulting in low voter turnout.

This phenomenon is widespread worldwide; voter turnout is significantly lower among youth compared to the older population. As such this points to structural, political and socio-cultural boundaries keeping youth from taking an interest in them and an impassive disposition towards practising their entitlement to cast the ballot.

Inadequate social cohesive activities have left young people feeling alienated, disempowered and excluded, thereby reducing productive civic engagement. Thus, disenfranchisement is a stimulus for low voter turnout and social exclusion.

During the March 26 by-elections, a voter turnout of 35% was recorded.

Election season is fast approaching, there is a high level of disquietude concerning time running out to mobilise young people to register to vote, particularly first-time voters and those below the age of 35. Voter apathy remains high due to a combination of issues ranging from political and socioeconomic disenfranchisement.

A plethora of problems, an oppressive economic and financial environment, an inconsistent political philosophy, and a decaying moral philosophy cause many eligible young citizens to lose interest in civic engagement.

About 70% of young people in Zimbabwe are unemployed and the few who are employed, earn less than US$2 per capita per day.

Hence, young people are vulnerable to exploitation and control. Poverty makes young people vulnerable to disenfranchisement.

Corruption has become rampant, funds intended for community development and job creation are plundered and benefit a privileged few. It is these frustrations that make young people reluctant to participate. Broken promises of politicians and lack of economic inclusive programmes also affect how youths view elections.

Despite provisions made in Section 20 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, an avenue for youth participation in governance and electoral process, young people with disabilities in particular have withdrawn from participation in decision-making due to poor approaches whereby they may be treated, and others excluded, on the basis of ethnicity and regionalism.

The systematic disenfranchisement of young people from public office and decision-making processes is an obstruction to meaningful youth participation in government.

Their views are dismissed as manifestations of youthful immaturity and lack of experience in governance, too young to understand governance processes and the art of politics and decision making”.

Young people are usually deterred from participating in the electoral process because of administrative hindrances as stated by the Leave No Youth Behind Report (2018).

Youths from rural and urban areas are faced with the challenge to obtain national identity cards (IDs) needed as a requirement to register to vote.

Phlegmatic actions of millennials and Gen Z reflect the standards of previous generations for civic action. Many grew up with the narrative and misconception that “elections never worked”.

Therefore, there is an urgent need to remove hindrances to participation in voter registration and voting. An intensive civic engagement exercise to ensure that youth are included in economic, social and political development is needed.