By Bernard Bwoni
“Honourable
Paradza's last question was whether l was surprised that a 28 year old was
employed. No, l was actually happy l hope we can have more. “This country has a
lot of young people who deserve to be given their chance just as l think there
are a lot of female professionals who deserve their chance’’. These were some
of the most progressive words ever uttered by a public official in Zimbabwe in
a very long time. The Minister of Information Jonathan Moyo was responding to
Paradza who had questioned the appointment of a 28 year old as Editor of the
Sunday Mail. Mr Paradza’s comments were well intentioned but the reality is
that age should never be used to relegate the youth of this country to second
class citizenry. Zimbabwe’s future is inseparable from the future of the young
people. Youth is a withering aptitude that requires harnessing; it is not a
question of years but a life yet unaffected by lethargy and tragedy, living on
hope not just memories of the good old times.
Youth brings with
it that zest and thirst for learning, that hunger and drive that has slowly
been stagnating with age in a number of officials. The key is to merge experience,
education and expertise with that youthful drive. The active participation of
young people in government and decision making is critical in ensuring that
their raw knowledge, skills and energy are harnessed appropriately for the
development of the country. The young ones of today are the future leaders and
elders of tomorrow, they need examples not disparagers.
What Information Minister Jonathan Moyo brought to
the forefront is crucial and requires dialogue and urgent action plans on the
part of government. Strengthening youth
structures and networks and ensuring that they have the right skills and
information needed to be involved in public policy and national planning
processes is critical to national development. Empowering the youth of Zimbabwe
should not be just about slogans and politicking but tangible action to drive
up national processes. It is the
simple things that matters to the young people of this country and it is the
simple gestures that endears the leadership and the elders to this vital national
component. Elected officials have a duty to prioritise the youth and a
commitment to make things simple for the young people to feel empowered and
valued in Zimbabwe. The youth of this country are first class citizens as
everyone else and they deserve a chance to realise their full potential, to be
heard and to make a difference for the good of the Zimbabwe. The young have the
unique and raw ability to be talented and innovative trouble-shooters as
opposed to recycled and lethargic unproductive palm-greasing elders, no offence
intended. The government owes it to the young people of Zimbabwe to trust them
into senior positions in some of the failing parastatals and government departments
to drive up national proceedings.
Zimbabwe has an educated population and the
young people of Zimbabwe have to feel empowered and able to engage positively
with governance structures. That the young people of this country are the
future leaders of tomorrow is not just a mere statement because they indeed are
the future leaders of this country. It is an open secret that our current
leaders are getting on a bit and naturally they are going to be replaced. The
replacement is going to come from the youth of this country. From an age point
of view there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 28 year old being an editor
all things being equal. Of course national security and national preservation
is paramount and takes priority over all else. The country however has to
positively continue mobilising this youthful vibrancy and verve.
The young people
of this country do possess the power and potential to address some of the
considerable social, political and economic challenges currently facing
Zimbabwe. The key to start unlocking the untapped potential of the young people
of Zimbabwe is to start acknowledging them as productive citizens of the
country and not putting them down at any level. There is huge potential locked
up in the youth of this country and the government has a responsibility to harness
this yet-to-be-realised possibility. The young people need to be listened to,
offered the necessary support to grow, encourage rather than put them down,
praise them when they make progress, reprimand when they make mistakes but not chastises
permanently and recognise that everyone deserves the chance to succeed. There is
a place for wisdom of the elderly and the energy of youth. Sometimes there is
no point in recycling the same old tried and tired seniors at the expense of
the hungry and expectant youth.
The young people of
Zimbabwe deserve the chance to prove their worth in senior positions.
Zimbabweans are the most enterprising, hard-working, creative and innovative
sons and daughters of Africa and all they want are systems and services that
function. Being young is not a crime but country-defining prospect. The key is
to reconcile the wisdom and knowledge of old age with the strength and
fearlessness of youth. It is retrogressive to underestimate the true potential
of the young.
Bernard Bwoni can
be contacted on bernardbwn@aol.com
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