Maintain peace, youths urged

Yeukai Tazira Herald Reporter
Youths Against Violence Organisation on Thursday challenged youths across Zimbabwe to engender a culture of peace and dialogue to ensure prosperity.

The organisation is a grouping of more than 150 youths drawn from across the 29 constituencies in Harare.
It consists of youths from Zanu PF, National Constitutional Assembly, MDC-Alliance, Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe and the MDC-T, among other political parties.

Last year, violence was instigated by MDC-Alliance and its associates in the non-governmental sector, which left a trail of destruction in Harare, Bulawayo and other cities.

In a statement, the youth organisation’s interim chairperson Mr Naison Kundiona said they condemned all forms of violence and youths should not be used as a tool by people who intend to cause disharmony in the country.

“Our main objective is targeting idle youth from across the political divide to volunteer their free time to mobilise fellow youths against being used by people harbouring nefarious agendas of pushing the country in chaos for their personal egos,” he said.
Mr Kundiona said last year’s illegal demonstrations caused arrests and destroyed businesses, and history should not repeat itself this year.

“Let me remind the nation that during the January 2019 illegal insurrectional demonstrations, 2 000 arrests were made, over 50 people were convicted and some lives lost,” said Mr Kundiona. “Business worth a staggering US$30 million was destroyed and looted by heavily intoxicated youths.”