By Tafadzwa Muranganwa.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Human rights lobby group, ZimRights has implored the ZANU-PF-led government to genuinely empower youths as the country celebrates international youths day.
In a statement, ZimRights said: the government needs to expeditiously address the high unemployment rate.
“On the occasion of international youth day, which is happening under the theme: ‘Youth Civic Engagement,’ the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) urges government to address the many challenges that confront the youth. On top of the priority list is the urgent need to address high unemployment levels,” stated ZimRights.
The organisation further noted that most government policies are negatively impacting on youth’s socioeconomic human rights. These policies include paltry funding for education on all levels, de-industrialisation, and job losses that compound already high unemployment.
Addressing the informal sector where most youths have found space, the human rights lobby group says.
“There has been a constant attack on the informal economy, such as vending and artisanal mining, which adversely affect youth’s socioeconomic rights to adequate standards of living. Because of these negative policies, youth’s ability to access other human rights-related amenities such as shelter, healthcare and food is drastically diminished”.
It also attacked government’s failure to protect children’s rights such as the right to education and end child marriages, continue to manifest in the challenges that confront these children later in their unfolding youth for instance poverty.
ZimRights said that it is a worrying trend that drug abuse is rising among youth due to widespread lack of opportunities. Government must move with haste in creating the 2.2 million jobs promised under the economic blueprint Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socioeconomic Transformation (ZimAsset).
The organisation took a swipe at government’s youth empowerment policy,
“While the government as early as 2009 has publicized its stance on youth empowerment policy, there continues to be a gulf between the vision and its implementation as it appears the policy is losing steam.
“Notably, one of the challenges confronting youth empowerment in Zimbabwe has been the politicisation of programs to uplift the youth on partisan basis. The specific examples can be the alleged obstracisation of youth in certain political parties in Ukurera/Ukondla Youth empowerment programs,”.
ZimRights also called for the release of the abducted youthful journalist and civic activist, Itai Dzamara, who was disappeared on March 9, 2015.
Meanwhile, the organisation has been strengthening citizen participation in democratic processes, with a particular focus on youth in marginalised communities in rural areas. To this end, ZimRights has been working with youth-led community based organisations (CBOs), including in the arts sector such Berina Arts in Kadoma and Victory Siyanqoban in Bulawayo.
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