Wednesday, 11 March 2015

The future of Universities with the reintroduction of the National Youth service

Recently the President of Zimbabwe announced the reinstatement of National service for all youths in the country. This is seen by most youths as an infringement on their right to education as it is seen to be compromised with the re-introduction of National service.

Being a youth in Zimbabwe is seen by many students as a source of synonym of desperation and decadence and not a source of pride. Violence, crime and prostitution are tags associated with youths.

The National Youth Service is a programme of the Zimbabwean government for Zimbabweans of ages 10 to 30. It was authorized by the 1979 National Service Act, passed by the government of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, and later re-established in  Zimbabwe in 2001 under the presidency of Robert Mugabe.

Inside the Third Chimurenga, a book used by the National Youth Service


Its stated purpose is to "transform and empower youths for nation building through life skills training and leadership development"t.The National Youth Service has been condemned in the West and in Africa for gross human rights violations on behalf of the ZANU-PF party. Within Zimbabwe the graduates of the service are known pejoratively as green bombers after the fatigue uniforms they wear and more recently as the Youth Brigade.

Youths fear being tagged as spies when they undergo these youth national service programs. It becomes even hard for them to get employment as even employers tend not to employ people with such background.

According to a story published in Zimeye  many students after attending the trainings are seen as outcasts and threats in the society as even their families do not trust them anymore.

MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu in the Newsday said: “They are not bothered one iota about the collapsing economy. Mugabe craves for political power as an end in itself. Everything else is secondary. What they want now is to indoctrinate the youngsters with toxic propaganda aimed at the deification of Mugabe. At this rate, Mugabe will fast surpass Kim Jong-un of North Korea as the world’s most notorious dictator.”

Political analyst Takura Zhangazha once said: “The track record of the national youth service programe isn’t one that has been coherent or organised, but seen as a move to propagandise young Zimbabweans on issues Zanu PF feel are important.”

National youth service on parade (Picture by Kudakwashe Hunda)







Despite manipulations by the ruling Zanu-PF government, the National Youth Service is provided for by the Zimbabwe National Service Act of 1979, later legalised in 1999, creating the it as an important component in youth development. - See more at: http://www.zimeye.com/zimbabwe-graduate-or-spy/#sthash.j6LyB878.dpufAccording to previous media reports, the  implications of the youth militia training for Zimbabwe is said to be serious indeed.  The legitimacy of providing politically partisan and military training to tens of thousands of youths every year must be questioned. 
Zimbabweans argue that against which enemy is this enormous “reserve force” of teenagers to be deployed? To date their targets have been their fellow Zimbabwean citizens, particularly those perceived to support the MDC.


The social fabric has been deliberately destroyed through encouraging part of the nation’s youth to commit terrible crimes against their fellow citizens with impunity.

Even if youth militia training were to stop tomorrow, it would leave Zimbabwe with a tough legacy. Our youths have been turned into vandals and have become a lost generation in the process. The task of reintegrating youth militia into the very communities they have victimised is as necessary as it is daunting.

According to Zimbabwesituation.com  government officials said:“We need to sensitise our youth the doctrine of our party and national pride. The coming of opposition parties has done injustice to our youth who are being influenced to be sellouts and facilitate the decolonisation of the country. So the training will mould our youths and shape them. The need to right mind and to know that this country came as a result of a protracted liberation war and we have to preserve that."

The move to reintroduce the youth militia could ignite fierce criticism and debate from the general public who feel that the national youth service training does not serve the interests of the country but Zanu PF’s interests.

The National Youth Service remains a noble and viable idea towards inculcating national values and ethos. However, its implementation from 2001 to 2009 was marred with loopholes and proneness to politicization which caused more harm than good and will take years if not decades to correct. 

Given these lessons, it would be very premature for the nation to embark on the program without the necessary research, consultation, funding and re-branding. The nation needs to draw lessons from other countries such as Mexico, China and Nigeria that have implemented National Youth Service with differing successes. 

The leadership and all responsible Zimbabweans should guard against the reestablishment of the program for political expediency and ensure that the program safeguards the national ethos through inculcation of such values in the Zimbabwean youth.

for more information on the National youth service reed the following articles
Violence, crime and prostitution are tags now associated with the youths. - See more at: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-64110.html#sthash.xhvo7VJy.dpuf
Apparently, being a youth in Zimbabwe is no longer a source of pride, but a synonym of desperation and decadence.
- See more at: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-64110.html#sthash.xhvo7VJy.dpuf
President Robert Mugabe recently announced the re-establishment of the youth service.

The last memory Zimbabweans have of the initiative is of a militant Zanu-PF aligned gang infamous for terrrorising the defenseless citizens during election times.

The silence that has followed the pronouncement, a fortnight on is a cause of concern.

One wonders whether the youths in Zimbabwe have a voice.

Apparently, being a youth in Zimbabwe is no longer a source of pride, but a synonym of desperation and decadence.

Violence, crime and prostitution are tags now associated with the youths.

President Mugabe's announcement to revive the Border Gezi brigade serves no use to the youth.

Rather, it further intensifies the calamities of the youths and the political elite seem to enjoy it.
Since the turn of the millennium, the ZANU-PF regime has been hastily implementing populist policies which jeopardise the prospects of the youths.

From the Economic Structure Adjustment Program of 1990, the fast-track land reform and the indigenisation policy, the youth's contribution was never solicited.

One wonders if the President is getting the youth's contribution from Zimbabwe's most mature youth Absalom Sikhosana who is turning 64 this year.

  President Mugabe and his government are in the habit of political grandstanding on issues which determine the country's political and economic well-being.

 In most cases the government's stance has left the country isolated politically and economically much to the detriment of the majority of youths who are financially weak.

Mugabe announced during his birthday celebration that the re-establishment of the National Youth Services was on the cards and the government was already mobilising funds for this cause despite its failure to support noble youth initiatives throughout the country.

The president's announcement is opposite to what is on the ground; several youths are in need of jobs.
University graduates are now airtime vendors and touts.

Youths across Zimbabwe were never consulted on this "noble government project."

Our "representatives" saw it prudent to take youths from doing menial jobs and train them into an instrument for the defense of their regime.

History tells us that the National Youth Service has never facilitated youth empowerment and development.

A culture of violence is cultivated into the youths in the name of patriotic ideology.

Youths in Zimbabwe need to rise above their political differences and denounce Mugabe's unilateral decision to re-establish the National Youth Service.

The president must solve more pertinent issues such as alarming level of unemployment currently projected at over 85%.

Youths are Zimbabwe's posterity and inculcating them with values and ethos to safeguard their nation is a noble cause.
But this should not be confused with defending Zanu-PF's hegemony come 2018 elections.

A National Youth Services which people of Zimbabwe want is one where the youths would be conscientised on progressive ideas such as democratic participation and entrepreneurship.

The call for the establishment of such a project should not emanate from Mugabe or any politician in Zimbabwe who are now known for sloganeering on youth developmental issues only to buy their political allegiance.

 Youths in Zimbabwe have made significant inroads in both economic and political spaces much to the admiration of the nation.

Sydney Chisi and Takunda Chingonzo made international headlines for championing the cause of the youths.
As youths of Zimbabwe, we say are saying "No" to a youth services that nurtures millitarised youths.
Youths of Zimbabwe are not a means to political self-aggrandisement.

They are neither foot soldiers in Zanu-PF's factional fights nor are they the right people to solve Morgan Tsvangirai's political squabbles with the Renewal movement or the so called United Movement of Democratic change.

Youths are the future leaders not pallbearers. In this information age, archaic and far-fetched topic such as neo-colonialism and national security are not our staple food.

With this unprecedented level of unemployment and youths living in abject poverty, it is high time youths wake up from this political slumber and confront the system that is breeding all this suffering.
- See more at: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-64110.html#sthash.xhvo7VJy.dpuf
President Robert Mugabe recently announced the re-establishment of the youth service.

The last memory Zimbabweans have of the initiative is of a militant Zanu-PF aligned gang infamous for terrrorising the defenseless citizens during election times.

The silence that has followed the pronouncement, a fortnight on is a cause of concern.

One wonders whether the youths in Zimbabwe have a voice.

Apparently, being a youth in Zimbabwe is no longer a source of pride, but a synonym of desperation and decadence.

Violence, crime and prostitution are tags now associated with the youths.

President Mugabe's announcement to revive the Border Gezi brigade serves no use to the youth.

Rather, it further intensifies the calamities of the youths and the political elite seem to enjoy it.
Since the turn of the millennium, the ZANU-PF regime has been hastily implementing populist policies which jeopardise the prospects of the youths.

From the Economic Structure Adjustment Program of 1990, the fast-track land reform and the indigenisation policy, the youth's contribution was never solicited.

One wonders if the President is getting the youth's contribution from Zimbabwe's most mature youth Absalom Sikhosana who is turning 64 this year.

  President Mugabe and his government are in the habit of political grandstanding on issues which determine the country's political and economic well-being.

 In most cases the government's stance has left the country isolated politically and economically much to the detriment of the majority of youths who are financially weak.

Mugabe announced during his birthday celebration that the re-establishment of the National Youth Services was on the cards and the government was already mobilising funds for this cause despite its failure to support noble youth initiatives throughout the country.

The president's announcement is opposite to what is on the ground; several youths are in need of jobs.
University graduates are now airtime vendors and touts.

Youths across Zimbabwe were never consulted on this "noble government project."

Our "representatives" saw it prudent to take youths from doing menial jobs and train them into an instrument for the defense of their regime.

History tells us that the National Youth Service has never facilitated youth empowerment and development.

A culture of violence is cultivated into the youths in the name of patriotic ideology.

Youths in Zimbabwe need to rise above their political differences and denounce Mugabe's unilateral decision to re-establish the National Youth Service.

The president must solve more pertinent issues such as alarming level of unemployment currently projected at over 85%.

Youths are Zimbabwe's posterity and inculcating them with values and ethos to safeguard their nation is a noble cause.
But this should not be confused with defending Zanu-PF's hegemony come 2018 elections.

A National Youth Services which people of Zimbabwe want is one where the youths would be conscientised on progressive ideas such as democratic participation and entrepreneurship.

The call for the establishment of such a project should not emanate from Mugabe or any politician in Zimbabwe who are now known for sloganeering on youth developmental issues only to buy their political allegiance.

 Youths in Zimbabwe have made significant inroads in both economic and political spaces much to the admiration of the nation.

Sydney Chisi and Takunda Chingonzo made international headlines for championing the cause of the youths.
As youths of Zimbabwe, we say are saying "No" to a youth services that nurtures millitarised youths.
Youths of Zimbabwe are not a means to political self-aggrandisement.

They are neither foot soldiers in Zanu-PF's factional fights nor are they the right people to solve Morgan Tsvangirai's political squabbles with the Renewal movement or the so called United Movement of Democratic change.

Youths are the future leaders not pallbearers. In this information age, archaic and far-fetched topic such as neo-colonialism and national security are not our staple food.

With this unprecedented level of unemployment and youths living in abject poverty, it is high time youths wake up from this political slumber and confront the system that is breeding all this suffering.
- See more at: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-64110.html#sthash.xhvo7VJy.dpuf
President Robert Mugabe recently announced the re-establishment of the youth service.

The last memory Zimbabweans have of the initiative is of a militant Zanu-PF aligned gang infamous for terrrorising the defenseless citizens during election times.

The silence that has followed the pronouncement, a fortnight on is a cause of concern.

One wonders whether the youths in Zimbabwe have a voice.

Apparently, being a youth in Zimbabwe is no longer a source of pride, but a synonym of desperation and decadence.

Violence, crime and prostitution are tags now associated with the youths.

President Mugabe's announcement to revive the Border Gezi brigade serves no use to the youth.

Rather, it further intensifies the calamities of the youths and the political elite seem to enjoy it.
Since the turn of the millennium, the ZANU-PF regime has been hastily implementing populist policies which jeopardise the prospects of the youths.

From the Economic Structure Adjustment Program of 1990, the fast-track land reform and the indigenisation policy, the youth's contribution was never solicited.

One wonders if the President is getting the youth's contribution from Zimbabwe's most mature youth Absalom Sikhosana who is turning 64 this year.

  President Mugabe and his government are in the habit of political grandstanding on issues which determine the country's political and economic well-being.

 In most cases the government's stance has left the country isolated politically and economically much to the detriment of the majority of youths who are financially weak.

Mugabe announced during his birthday celebration that the re-establishment of the National Youth Services was on the cards and the government was already mobilising funds for this cause despite its failure to support noble youth initiatives throughout the country.

The president's announcement is opposite to what is on the ground; several youths are in need of jobs.
University graduates are now airtime vendors and touts.

Youths across Zimbabwe were never consulted on this "noble government project."

Our "representatives" saw it prudent to take youths from doing menial jobs and train them into an instrument for the defense of their regime.

History tells us that the National Youth Service has never facilitated youth empowerment and development.

A culture of violence is cultivated into the youths in the name of patriotic ideology.

Youths in Zimbabwe need to rise above their political differences and denounce Mugabe's unilateral decision to re-establish the National Youth Service.

The president must solve more pertinent issues such as alarming level of unemployment currently projected at over 85%.

Youths are Zimbabwe's posterity and inculcating them with values and ethos to safeguard their nation is a noble cause.
But this should not be confused with defending Zanu-PF's hegemony come 2018 elections.

A National Youth Services which people of Zimbabwe want is one where the youths would be conscientised on progressive ideas such as democratic participation and entrepreneurship.

The call for the establishment of such a project should not emanate from Mugabe or any politician in Zimbabwe who are now known for sloganeering on youth developmental issues only to buy their political allegiance.

 Youths in Zimbabwe have made significant inroads in both economic and political spaces much to the admiration of the nation.

Sydney Chisi and Takunda Chingonzo made international headlines for championing the cause of the youths.
As youths of Zimbabwe, we say are saying "No" to a youth services that nurtures millitarised youths.
Youths of Zimbabwe are not a means to political self-aggrandisement.

They are neither foot soldiers in Zanu-PF's factional fights nor are they the right people to solve Morgan Tsvangirai's political squabbles with the Renewal movement or the so called United Movement of Democratic change.

Youths are the future leaders not pallbearers. In this information age, archaic and far-fetched topic such as neo-colonialism and national security are not our staple food.

With this unprecedented level of unemployment and youths living in abject poverty, it is high time youths wake up from this political slumber and confront the system that is breeding all this suffering.
- See more at: http://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-columnist-byo-64110.html#sthash.xhvo7VJy.dpuf

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