Chronicle Editor
Thousands of youths from across the country are in Bulawayo for the National Youth Day commemorations being held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC). Barbourfields Stadium was supposed to play host to the commemorations but due to the prevailing weather conditions, the event was moved to ZIEC.
The National Youth Day was set aside to honour the late National Hero and former President Cde Robert Mugabe who was born on February 2, 1924 and died on September 6, 2019.
President Mnangagwa is leading the proceedings at the commemorations that are being attended by youths drawn from a wide spectrum of society that include pupils from primary and secondary schools, students from tertiary institutions, youths living with disabilities, graduates from colleges and universities that are either employed or running their own businesses and farmers.
The theme for this year’s National Youth Day commemorations is “Empower Youth, Secure the Future.” February is a special month for Zimbabwean youths as it affords them an opportunity to reflect on the rich legacy of one of Zimbabwe’s liberation icons, Cde Mugabe.
The youths are the country’s future and should therefore emulate national heroes that sacrificed their lives to bring about our freedom and independence. The youths should strive to promote the legacy of unity, love and peace that our gallant heroes fought for as they work to build the Zimbabwe we all want.
The Government, as has become the norm, invited all youths regardless of their religion, political affiliation or social status because the event is national event that should be commemorated by all Zimbabwean youths.
The youths, who are the country’s future, should take a leading role in building a prosperous Zimbabwe taking advantage of our abundant natural resources like minerals.
We want at this juncture to remind the youths that they can only build the Zimbabwe we all want if they have a shared vision as Zimbabweans. The Government leaders that are pushing for an upper-middle-income economy by year 2030 are not doing this for themselves but for the youths and future generations. They want to bequeath to the youths and future generations, a better Zimbabwe.
It is the youths who will occupy leadership positions tomorrow and they should start preparing now. Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo/Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo. What is encouraging is that we have youths who are already excelling in farming, mining, manufacturing and other sectors of the economy and the challenge is to mobilise those still idle and abusing drugs to come on board.
It is disturbing to learn that drug abuse among the youths is on the increase yet the nation looks up to the youths to play an active role in building a better Zimbabwe. The youths therefore, have an obligation to fight drug abuse by engaging their peers who have fallen victim.
The resources being spent on drugs should be put to good use hence the need for those youths already in the productive sectors of the economy to mobilise especially drug addicts to come on board. Those promoting drug abuse among the youths are killing a whole generation and all efforts should be directed at putting a stop to this.
Online Reporter