Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka
Zimpapers Politics Hub
ON the political landscape, youth are the future, forming the foundation for a party’s long-term viability and ideological continuity.
For the ruling Zanu PF party, young people are not just a voting bloc, they are seen as the nation’s most valuable asset and the “vanguard” of the party.
Their role is to uphold the party’s core values and safeguard its revolutionary legacy.
The party views the youth as a crucial part of its structure, essential for not only winning elections but also for reproducing the systems of governance and social networks that support its authority.
Acknowledging this, Zanu PF has made concerted efforts to engage young people, ensuring their active and beneficial participation in political, social, and economic affairs aligns with the party’s goals.
President Mnangagwa has consistently stated that both Zanu PF and the Government are committed to empowering the youth because the country’s future rests in their hands.
“It is critically important to empower them now and see that they are committed to their country, they are committed to developing their country and they are committed as the younger generation to leave a mark behind for those who will come after them to say look at what we did when we were young people in our youth,” President Mnangagwa in June this year as he received trucks meant for youth empowerment.
This commitment was further highlighted in February during the National Youth Day celebrations in Bulawayo, which was attended by over 20 000 young people from across the country.
In his keynote address, President Mnangagwa noted that the Government has made several appointments of young people to leadership and decision-making roles in ministries, departments, and other key institutions.
“The Second Republic has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to empowering young people through the deliberate and bold placement of youth in key leadership and decision making positions.
“This includes Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies, in Parliament as well as other strategic institutions, such as boards of parastatals and advisory councils among others’’ said the President.
He challenged those appointed to continue displaying principles of servant leadership and discipline, while also inspiring other youth to fully participate in the socio-economic and cultural affairs of the country.
“As the vanguard of our country, you must take the initiative and develop synergies as well as partnerships while building a common united front to advance the aims and objectives of our people’s revolution and development thrust,” said President Mnangagwa.
To achieve these objectives, Zanu PF has implemented a range of targeted initiatives aimed at empowering young people and integrating them into the party’s framework.
These efforts demonstrate a clear strategy to ensure the youth are not just beneficiaries of development but are active agents in shaping the nation’s future, solidifying their role within the party’s long-term vision.
The party’s Youth League, a key integral component, is responsible for mobilising youths and promoting their interests.
Programmes such as the Presidential Youth Empowerment Scheme, which includes a revolving fund to finance income-generating projects, are designed to create economic opportunities for young members.
Additionally, initiatives like the provision of agricultural equipment, land, and housing under schemes like the Munhumutapa Land Scheme are used to attract and reward youth loyalty.
These efforts are often framed as a commitment to uplifting the next generation, ensuring they are not left behind in the country’s development drive.
Zanu PF Bulawayo Province Youth League chairperson Freedom Murechu echoed this sentiment, stating that within Zanu PF, the youth are the vanguard of the party and the future of the nation, as any nation’s survival is anchored on its young people.
“The youth are the future of this country, and any nation’s survival is anchored on its youth. Within Zanu PF, the youth are the vanguard of the party, and its continued survival is anchored on them.
“As the demographic of the party and the youth multiply, we are mobilising more young people to join the party.
“This is to ensure they can defend the revolution not just through voting, but also by playing important roles in the economic, social and political sectors of the country,” said Cde Murechu.
He added that President Mnangagwa’s administration recognises the importance of youth by empowering them through initiatives like the youth quota system, which facilitates the appointment of young people as Members of Parliament, Deputy Ministers and other Government officials.
“This deliberate policy serves as a way of recognising the vital role that youth play in both the party and the Government, demonstrating that they are not only the future but are also important partners in governance.
“The President is further empowering youth through numerous programmes and initiatives designed to ensure their commitment to Zimbabwe.
“These include the Presidential heifers scheme, agricultural plots, and various empowerment funds.
“As the Youth League, we are doing a lot to mobilise young people to join the party and encourage them to benefit from these programmes,” said Cde Murechu.
Cde Murechu further emphasised that the active involvement of youth in the political, social, and economic sectors is absolutely pivotal for achieving Vision 2030.
He noted that as the most energetic and innovative demographic, young people are at the forefront of driving economic growth and national development.
“By actively participating in and benefiting from Government programmes, they become key stakeholders in the journey towards an upper-middle-income economy, thus solidifying their crucial role in securing the nation’s future prosperity,” he said.
It is clear from Cde Murechu’s observations that the Zanu PF Youth League, as a crucial part of the party’s grassroots structure, is also playing a vital role in its robust mobilisation efforts.
The League utilises a multi-pronged approach to reach young people at the local level, encouraging them to join the party and participate in the programmes implemented by President Mnangagwa.
Further emphasising this point and highlighting the importance of the youth to the party, District Coordinating Committee (DCC) Political Commissar for Area One in Bulawayo, Cde Misheck Gumbo, while addressing Zanu PF members from the City Centre district in Bulawayo recently urged young people to join the party and register within its structures, describing them as the heartbeat of the nation.
“As the ruling party, Zanu PF has many projects for young people, and joining the party gives them access to these opportunities.
“Many youths mistakenly believe that these opportunities are only for older people, but a lot of them are specifically designed for the youth. While other groups, such as the Women’s League, also benefit, our main focus is on the youth, as they are the leaders of tomorrow. These projects will also keep them occupied, helping them to avoid drug and substance abuse,” Cde Gumbo said.
Zanu PF City Centre District Youth Chairman for Bulawayo, Cde Joseph Majoni, expressed satisfaction with the number of young people joining the party.
He stated that this influx was being driven by Zanu PF’s recognition of the youth as a crucial part of its structure and has been actively empowering them.
“We have seen a satisfying number of young people joining the party. This move is being necessitated by Zanu PF, as a mass revolutionary party, which has realised the importance of the youth as a crucial part of its structure by actively empowering them.
“Our role as the Youth League is to be on the ground, spearheading the mobilisation efforts to ensure the party’s continued survival and growth. We are the ones actively in charge of bringing in new members, particularly our peers, because we understand that the future of the party and the nation is in our hands,” said Cde Majoni.
It is clear that with its proactive youth engagement, Zanu PF is clearly banking on the next generation to secure its political future and drive national development.
The collective efforts of the party’s leadership and the Youth League, from implementing quota systems to providing empowerment programs, underscore a strategic vision where young people are not just passive beneficiaries but are active agents in shaping Zimbabwe’s destiny.
By mobilising the youth and integrating them into the party’s core structures, Zanu PF is not only ensuring its own survival, but is also positioning them as the key to achieving Vision 2030 and building a new, prosperous era for the nation.
