Youths challenged to exercise their right
Providence Moyo
Some Bulawayo youths have challenged fellow young people to do all they can to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming elections.
The concerned youths noted the voter apathy among their peers who for several reasons, are reluctant to participate in electoral processes.
Theophilus Mpofu of Emakhandeni said youths including those who have registered to vote, have a tendency of shunning political spaces.
“Over the years we have seen youths who are very vocal in virtual spaces about their rights demanding access to political spaces but few of them actually queue up to register to vote and actually vote on poling day. It is high time youths are encouraged to register and vote. Some just register but on the day of the election, do not vote. They have to take action and create the future they want because it all starts with voting,” he said.
Another youth, Nigel Moyo of New Magwegwe asserted that youths need to be reminded that voting is the only way youths can express themselves regarding their future.
“Rather than complaining about the status quo, youths must appreciate that change comes with effort, and it comes with collective action from every stakeholder, chief of which are youths, hence the need to fight the voter apathy among young people,” he added.
Nokubonga Sidambe of Nkulumane said youths lack trust in the political system’s ability to change their lives positively.
“Lack of trust in the political system’s ability to bring about meaningful development or change in the average citizen’s circumstances causes ordinary citizens to view politics as a mind game where citizens are the victims of unfulfilled promises,”she said.
Community volunteer on Economic and Political rights with Project263, Eric Gono said voter apathy amongst youths in communities was also a product of socialization.
“Elders in commuities need to understand that young people are the majority whose participation or lack thereoff makes a difference.
Including them in decisions and policy marking will curb the apathy issue because there are elders who tell youths that voting is useless.
Elders must capacitate youngsters with productive knowledge on the benefits of collective voting as talking negatively about voting will create a divide between youths. Those who are left out will get used to being left out, therefore creating serious disinterest among the youth so there is a need to eradicate this kind of socialization,” he said.
In July of 2022 electoral watchdog, the Election Resource Centre said Zimbabwe’s total eligible voters should be around eight million, meaning that nearly three million people were not registered to vote at the time.
The ERC graphic report shows that Harare and Bulawayo have the most people who are of voting age but have not registered to vote in comparison to rural constituencies.
