Youth — The fibre of national development

Youth is the spring of life and represents the age of discovery and dreams.

Martin Luther had a dream which he was determined to see come true and today we live his dream. Microsoft and Facebook are other innovations brought about by youthful determination and have vastly transformed global trends in business and communication.

As such, youth should personify energy, enthusiasm, morality, diligence and stand firm as torch bearers that lead the process of development.

In defining youth, the United Nations sets the age limit between 10 and 24 years, while in Zimbabwe it is defined by the range of 10 to 30 years. This variation is informed by the fact that youth generally graduate into adulthood on the premise of their attainment of economic independence.

The Zimbabwean economy has been plagued by economic problems in the last decade, which was characterised by high unemployment, declining industry capacity utilisation, business closures, meaning the average Zimbabwean youth remains perpetually stuck in their youthful stage as they remain unproductive and dis-empowered.

This presents a daunting task for the Zimbabwean youth to wear aggressive attire that will unshackle them from this vicious circle of poverty by actively participating in the socio-economic transformation currently at play.

At present, young people face challenges stemming from limited access to resources, education, training, employment and broader economic opportunities.

The World Bank, UNPA and Commonwealth Secretariat have identified youth as critical in achieving the Millennium Development Goal on poverty eradication. Thus, young people become a major human resource for development and key agents for social change, economic growth and technological innovation.

The development of a nation is usually referred to as a constructive process of engaging all citizens in building social cohesion, economic prosperity and political stability in an inclusive and democratic way.

Thus, all citizens are involved in national capital. Youth bodies such as youth leagues present organised platforms to facilitate the development of young people and their participation in nation-building from political and socio- economic dimensions.

They also influence policy formulation to increase the financial, education, technical and moral support available to young people. Youth in Zimbabwe have been at the forefront of political change since pre-colonial times. As such, they occupy a significant footprint on the political landscape. Young people are endeared towards building stable democracies, sustainable economies and societies based on equity and, thus, should be allowed to actively participate in shaping political dimensions, views and ethos towards nation-building.

It is worth noting that while the youth have energy, skills, hopes, dreams, determination and exuberance they lack critical and strategic thinking at times. They should, therefore, work hand in glove with the old guard who are no doubt treasure troves of invaluable experience and offer guidance to the youth; the technocrats who are the beholders of our political vision which lies in sync with the desire to attain national economic prosperity.

The youth need to own the process of economic development meant to cement the gains on the political front that created a conducive environment to pursue pro-poor economic policies that will grow the economy and empower the masses.

It is the responsibility of the youth to identify with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) and locate economic opportunities. Zim-Asset provides for youth participation as it lays an agenda for such involvement in mining, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and value addition.

It is the responsibility of youth leaders to lead in articulating, promoting and implementing policies and programmes that carry forward the aspirations of the people.

The responsibility of youth leadership is also magnified in circumstances where the youth which could be the pioneer of some world-changing act may very well apply negative energy and become world-changing terrorists, rapists, murderers, drug addicts and be engaged in all sorts of social ills.

Recent examples to note are the dimensions brought about by the youth identities and realities that hide behind the figure of the angry young man and the veiled young woman in the North African and Arab Spring through the use of technologies to ignite political uprisings and effect regime change and change cultural and social norms. Youth leadership is called upon to develop comprehensive programmes that educate its own to avert the impact of these social ills, especially in places that provide a conducive environment for these vices such as universities and colleges.

Female youth leaders have the responsibility to highlight and fight abuse of women through rape, gender-based violence and human trafficking. Hence the need to create an environment that harnesses talents; shapes views and opinions; develops and transforms potential into tangible economic and social deliverables that contribute towards national development.

Given that our society is not homogeneous, it is imperative that youths from all walks of life and across the political and economic divide are given an opportunity to air their views holistically and main-streamed into the national development agenda.

In national development, youth play a pivotal role as leaders of tomorrow and partners of today.

Young people are social actors of change and progress, and are a crucial segment of economic development.

Youth have a bubbly enthusiasm which has to be harnessed for application in the most appropriate way as they exercise their full potential during their prime.

In this way, the experimental youth will be given full support and encouraged towards the full utilisation of talents, which are development catalysts forming the springboard of national develop at an exponential pace.

Indeed, the time is now for the youth to arise and take up its space in driving the national development agenda.

Nyasha Mandeya is the Zanu-PF director of economic affairs.