dyton mupawaenda
Engineer Tinashe Kenneth Madira
OUR nation, Zimbabwe, is a country boasting with a youth dividend.
The majority of its population are the youth. Studies show that youths in Zimbabwe contribute about 67.7 percent of the country’s population.
Therefore, it is in this light that we can safely state that the youths are, in essence, Zimbabwe.
This averment further suggests that the youths themselves have a significant role to play for themselves, as they are Zimbabwe!
But, what does this mean?
It is my humble opinion, that we the youths, should lead from the front towards the contribution to our very own socio-economic growth. For us to achieve this, we must foster a mentality of hard, honest work; which in itself, pays.
According to the NDS1, it has been noted with much concern that most youths in Zimbabwe have not embraced the culture of hard work and the principle that hard and honest work pays.
As a result of this, a mental construct, it is a pity that we have let ourselves down by not developing the requisite aptitude that challenges this detrimental status quo.
It is a fact that an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.
Our non-chalant behaviour has ultimately made us vulnerable to so many issues like drug and alcohol abuse, violence and theft just to mention but a few.
This has had a negative impact on our future, as a Nation and as a People. We are the vanguard of our beloved nation that must provide a pillar for a beautiful future.
A future we can all be proud of. A future supported by our able leaders.
The majority of the freedom fighters who participated in the liberation struggle were primarily young people, youths.
The average age of a ZANLA fighter was 16.
They faced numerous challenges and had to make the difficult choice to join the liberation struggle rather than continue their education.
Despite the many lives lost, they persisted, finding strength in the spirits of our ancestors like Chaminuka, Mukwati, Kaguvi, and Nehanda.
They went to war and witnessed things that their parents had not seen to reclaim our sovereign right, the land of Munhumutapa, and our natural riches.
During the liberation struggle, it is the majority of the youths who rose to the occasion for the Zimbabwean voice to be heard.
President Mnangagwa joined the liberation struggle at a very young age. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga also joined the struggle as a youth.
Youths! Why are we so skilled at whining and disparaging Zimbabwe now, and where is that battling, adventurous spirit?
Why do some of us globetrot the world to tarnish the image of our motherland Zimbabwe?
Where is our pride?
Patriotism is about the liberation fighters, the youths of yesteryear and Zimbabwe as a whole.
Mapfupa angu achamuka from Nehanda’s words, youths ngatimukei. Let us not be taken advantage of by the adversary that is forming “proxies,” opposition parties that Western handlers support in the name of democracy.
They might attack our economy and impose illegal sanctions on us but let us defend the colossal revolutionary party called ZANU PF.
Forward ever backwards never! The promise of the Second Republic is that no one will be left behind. We are the ones to keep the flame of the liberation struggle burning bright.
President Mnangagwa is walking the talk and making our lives better by developing our nation brick by brick.
Let us all rally behind him.
Our leaders cannot develop the country alone; they need us as the youths. We are the last line of defence when it comes to our heritage and future.
We are central to economic development and we should believe in ourselves and use our skills for the attainment of an upper middle-income economy by the year 2030.
As youths we are the backbone of economic development with the set of skills we learn from our respectable colleges, universities and technical schools and also making great use of the innovation hubs which are meant for us.
Such skills are necessary to transform our economy through creating our own employment.” Nyika inovakwa ne vene vayo, isu ndisu vene vayo” for we are Zimbabwe.
The illegal sanctions imposed on us are a hindrance to our country’s progress economically.
They mean no good but to harm the development of our motherland Zimbabwe.
We as youths should say NO to illegal sanctions and YES to development of our nation and the growth of our economy. Our duty is to defend our independence and take a leading role in building and developing our motherland.
We the upcoming generation should continue to lift the Zimbabwean flag high regardless of the illegal sanctions imposed on us.
To some extent the illegal sanctions are also a blessing in disguise for Zimbabwe in the sense that they make us to believe in our own abilities and capabilities as youths and as a nation.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Zimbabwe boasts as one of the countries in the world to successfully launch its very own satellite, ZIMSTAT1, into orbit.
The Second Republic is doing its best to fight sanctions.
In the agricultural sector, many dams are being constructed. This is a clear example of the visionary and determined leadership of President Mnangagwa.
Thanks to the Chivhu Irrigation Scheme, farmers in Chivhu and the surrounding areas can now engage in irrigation agriculture and fish farming.
Youths let us utilise the opportunities being presented to us by the Second Republic.
The development of dam projects by Government seeks to support smallholder irrigation, boost food and agricultural production.
As youths, we should find space within the agriculture value chain to increase production and related productivity across the sector and agro-industries.
By doing so we the youths can make Zimbabwe the bread basket of Africa again.
“Nyika inovakwa ne vene vayo”. Zimbabwean youths, yes, we can!
Online Reporter