21st Movement for all children!

commemorate the birthday of Zimbabwe’s revered leader, President Robert Gabriel Mugabe. President Mugabe was born on February 21, 1924.

The day was set aside to celebrate President Mugabe’s astute leadership and his achievements throughout his life. This day is expected to inspire youth in Zimbabwe in spite of their social background, colour or creed.

The essence of the 21st Movement is what gets a lot of young people excited as it is a time when they are presented with the platform to evaluate themselves as the future leaders of the nation.

“It is the time to ask ourselves if we are making adequate preparations to take up the responsibility of shaping the nation. Our President has done a great job in leading by example. He has stood firm in what he believes in because of his love for his people.

“Through his leadership, I have learnt that you should not be intimidated by bullies just because they think they are more powerful than you. We should not rely on other people but rather work to develop ourselves and in the long run we will enjoy the fruits of our hard work,” said Promise Nyakumbi from Budiriro.

True to Nyakumbi’s words young people have a huge task of carrying on the Zimbabwe legacy. Are we going to be able to live up to the set standards?

Since the initiation of the movement in 1986, the goals have been biased towards achieving a prosperous Zimbabwe through exposing youths to positive values of life. It serves as a reminder of the mammoth task that lies ahead of all Zimbabwean youths as tomorrow’s leaders, heads of corporates, institutions and even families.

The past generations have played their part in building this nation against difficult circumstances. The baton has been passed on to the youths and with the values that were engrained in us through good education, where are we headed? Those principles we are continuously being taught by parents, teachers and the elders are the heritage and tools we will need to shape Zimbabwe.

The 21st Movement reminds the youths that they should not sit back waiting for their parents to solve their problems.

Government has empowered the youths through President Mugabe’s efforts and it is up to the youths to work hard and take advantage of the opportunities presented by the empowerment drive. The principle of working hard is seen every year with local teens accomplishing extraordinary things on a daily basis in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Twenty points and more at A-Level, 10 and more As at O-Level, record-breaking entries in the Guinness Book of World Records what more do we need. Our generation is the cream de la creme because of its competitiveness. The fittest, the smartest and the sharpest are being carved so that they survive in the concrete jungle. We are a generation that knows that if we want something we go and get it. If we are not good enough, we do not tuck ourselves in a corner and feel bad.

Instead, we suck it up go back and try again until we are good enough. Some might not be geniuses or computer whizkids but when we put our minds to things we make it happen.

Donnel Chindika from Chiedza Primary in Norton, who shares the same birthday with the President, shared with Cool Lifestyle the relevance of the 21st Movement to him.

“As a born free, I wish the President a happy birthday. Sharing the same birthday with him challenges me to be a great man when I grow up. We can’t all be presidents but we can be great people whose names can live on for years to come,” he said.

This is the destiny of young people and there is no escaping it.