mbulelo smpofu
Bongani Ndlovu, bongani.ndlovu@chronicle.co.zw
THE Youth Council for Peace and Development (YCPD) was launched in Bulawayo last week, initiated by the 4-H Zimbabwe Foundation, to promote national unity and peace throughout the country.
This pioneering project aims to galvanise political party youth wings to foster peace, dialogue, leadership and national development in the country.
The launch saw representatives from various political party youth wings come together, including Zanu-PF, MDC Alliance, CCC, DOP, NCA, Free Zim, UANC, NPC, ZIPP, UZA, and ZCPD. Also in attendance were Dr Tinashe Rukuni, a former National Peace and Reconciliation Commissioner and Father Fidelis Mukonori, a Zimbabwe National Elders Forum Board member.
In their remarks, the youths said the YCPD is an important initiative as it helped them recognise that they were fundamentally the same, despite different political convictions.
Cde Thabo Freedom Thwala, representing Zanu-PF, hailed the initiative, stating that it provided young people with a deeper understanding of Zimbabwe’s past and future while also creating an environment that promotes national unity.
“The lessons we have learned based on youth participation in the economic mainstream of our country help to eliminate idleness. Violence can only come about when young people are not occupied,” he said.
“While our Government, which is led by the able leadership of President ED Mnangagwa, is pursuing NDS1 and NDS2, young people must participate in the economic mainstream.”
Cde Thwala said Zanu-PF preaches peace and unity.
“This is why when you read our motto, it’s ‘Unity, Peace and Development’. You cannot achieve development without meaningful peace. Zanu-PF is pushing very hard for a peaceful environment so that our youth can have the opportunity to enrich themselves and benefit from the resources of our motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said.
CCC national taskforce member, Ms Bridget Ziki, said the YCPD will help youths push for more participation in the political landscape.
“We have always pushed for peace, and we are happy that 4-H is here to help us in pushing for our participation in politics. It is very crucial as the statistics from our census show that 67 percent of the population is youth,” she said.
“With that in mind, peace is a cornerstone of development. As a female in politics, we face many challenges due to the patriarchal structure of the environment.”
In a speech read on her behalf by his executive secretary, Mr Johanne Gandiwa, Attorney General, Mrs Virginia Mabiza, who was the guest of honour, said the goals of 4-H Zimbabwe resonate well with Zimbabwe’s development blueprint, the NDS1, which is clear on youth participation and inclusion in local development.
“The NDS1 stipulates that youth inclusion and participation must be prioritised through initiatives aimed at increasing young people’s access to decision-making processes, empowering them economically through skills development and entrepreneurship opportunities, and actively engaging them in various sectors of the economy,” she said.
“We should focus on creating an enabling environment for their meaningful contribution to national development.”
Mrs Mabiza said the launch of the YCPD is an important step in the national development discourse.
“This maiden platform, which brings together youth wings from eleven political parties across Zimbabwe is a testament to what is possible when we, as a nation, prioritise convergence and collaboration. YCPD marks the fruition of the visionary work that 4-H Zimbabwe has been spearheading in the peace-building arena.
“This work led to the Zimbabwe Youth Charter on Peace in the Electoral Process in 2023. This chapter as we all know was a landmark milestone in creating a peaceful environment during the 2023 elections through national and provincial peace pledges by the political parties’ youth leadership.”
Father Mukonori said to prevent conflict from escalating into violence, there is a need for flexible spaces for dialogue.
“This is where people can develop a joint understanding of a problem, hear different perspectives on a particular issue, and build mutual trust. I see that you come from different political parties with divergent ideologies and as such, you are bound to have different views,” he said.
“Mistrust and conflict may be unavoidable as you pursue your ideologies, but they can be prevented and this is exactly what I am speaking to you about today.”
Father Mukonori said mediation and dialogue are key to conflict resolution.
“I have always encouraged people to ensure they maintain their integrity during conflicts. There is a need to always have faith and to put God at the forefront of everything. Peace and reconciliation are very possible, and we must always work towards achieving them,” he said.
“This country would not have been freed without mediation. The war veterans and the white farmers would have butchered each other without mediation, political contestation would have turned into a bloodbath between Mugabe and Tsvangirai supporters without mediation, and the transfer of power from Mugabe could have gone awry in 2017 without mediation.”
Father Mukonori said peace is a necessity and urged young people to take leading roles.
“We are forever grateful to organisations like 4-H Zimbabwe Foundation for establishing platforms that ensure you have the necessary and relevant skills to become peace-building champions. There is a non-negotiable need for sustained peace in the country due to various socio-political scenarios,” he said.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr John Muchenje, executive director of the 4-H Zimbabwe Foundation, said the potential of the nation’s youth in shaping a brighter future is great.
“This initiative is designed to empower young leaders to engage in meaningful dialogue, create peaceful solutions to challenges and actively contribute to the nation’s development,” Mr Muchenje said.
He said the critical role Zimbabwe’s youth can play in driving change can never be over-emphasised.
“Together, we can harness the power of youth to drive positive change and peace in Zimbabwe,” he said.
