26th May 2024
Growing up in Zimbabwe, I’ve
witnessed firsthand the impact of the Zimbabwe National Youth Service (NYS),
known to many as the Youth Brigade or "Green Bombers," a ZANU-PF
initiative. This program, which was supposed to empower our youth through
skills training and nation-building, instead became synonymous with fear and
violence. I remember the stories of villagers intimidated, harassed, beaten,
maimed and killed by these youths, particularly during election times. The NYS,
far from being a force for good, became a tool for oppression and control.
Emmerson Mnangagwa, the ZANU-PF
leader, has reintroduced this controversial program. While the government
promises that the new version of the NYS will provide jobs and skills training,
I, like many others, remain deeply sceptical. We’ve seen how the program has
been used in the past—to coerce and exploit economically disadvantaged youths,
who are drawn into its ranks with promises of opportunity that often go
unfulfilled. These young people, desperate for any chance at a better life, end
up being manipulated for political purposes, their futures sacrificed for the
ruling party's agenda.
The disparity between the lives
of these youths and the children of top ZANU-PF officials is stark and
infuriating. While the elite sends their children abroad for the best education
money can buy, our less fortunate peers are conscripted into the NYS,
indoctrinated, and often forced into violent roles. This hypocrisy only deepens
the sense of injustice and mistrust many of us feel towards our leaders. It's a
bitter pill to swallow, knowing that while some enjoy the benefits of stolen
wealth, others are pushed into harmful and dangerous situations.
The looming 2028 elections
compound our worries. The NYS has a grim history of being deployed to
intimidate voters and stifle opposition. With its revival, I dread a
reoccurrence of past atrocities. The notion of these trained youths being
manipulated once more to sway and regulate the electoral process is not just
disconcerting—it’s an immediate peril to our democracy. It’s disheartening to
hold onto hope when history appears destined to replay, and the fate of our
nation feels perilously balanced on the whims of those in power.
Reflecting on all this, it’s
clear that real change is needed. The reintroduction of the NYS must be met
with scrutiny and a demand for accountability. We need to ensure that any
program aimed at youth development genuinely serves our young people's
interests, not for political expedience. Only then can we begin to rebuild
trust and move towards a future where democracy and human rights are truly
respected in Zimbabwe.
Emmerson Mnangagwa must stop
exploiting our youth for political gain.
About the author
Renee
Brenda Langa is a human rights activist based in the United Kingdom. She is the
Secretary for Information & Publicity for the Midlands Branch of the UK
Chapter of Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) Zimbabwe. She can be contacted by email at reneelanga378@gmail.com OR renee.langa@rohr-zimbabwe.org
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