By Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu

A MOST plausible decision recently taken and implemented by the Zimbabwean Government was the extension of the voter registration campaign.
The Government rightly felt that many more people could, and should, register than those who had already done so.
That is a very good move towards national political empowerment, a decision that should be taken advantage of by all those, particularly the youths, who are eligible to be on the Zimbabwe voters’ roll.
It is a historical fact that the largest number of the liberation war casualties comprised the youths, that is, people then aged between 18 and 35 years.
It is also a demographic truth that those of that age range are presently the country’s majority. But on both the municipal and the national voters’ rolls, the youths comprise proportionally the least.
That ought not to be the case for obvious reasons, one of which is that the future of the country is much more important to the youths than to older generations.
That is strengthened by the historical fact already stated above.
Youths have a duty to shape the socio-economic future of Zimbabwe today, and that can be done constructively through the ballot box; a responsibility youths should not delegate to older generations.
To complain about whatever situation, product, service or relationship without doing anything about it is the opposite of wisdom.
Between infancy and one year before the age of majority (18 years), one is immature and is a responsibility of one’s parents or guardians in social, economic and cultural terms.
During that tender age, a child looks to his/her parents and/or teachers for political guidance, cultural association and practice, for religious teachings, beliefs and membership.
From the age 18, one is an adult according to the Zimbabwean law, and is expected to have input in family, community and national affairs.
That legal and constitutional situation does not mean or imply that one is no longer answerable to one’s parents, guardians, nor does it imply or mean that one’s guardians and parents cease to have customary authority and moral responsibility over one’s behaviour.
One’s parents or guardians remain one’s parents or guardians whatever one’s age, a natural relationship that cannot be modified or altered by formal legalities.
However, parents’ or guardians’ political, cultural or economic affiliation may be different from those of their child or children, ward or wards.
That is what is meant in practical terms by Zimbabwe’s ‘Freedom of Association’ constitutional clause.
People’s membership of whatever organisation or organisations may be based on identical or similar economic interests or objectives, or identical cultural and/or traditional beliefs and practices, or on identical political origins and/or ideology or objectives.
Political organisations have socio-economic and cultural objectives, some of which may be overtaken by local, national, regional or global developments, rendering their organisation irrelevant.
The same development, including age, may also affect a political leadership, a situation that requires a leadership renewal process.
In countries where religious beliefs play a major role in people’s lives, a departure from a formerly established doctrine may alienate a large number of a political party’s members, resulting in a split.
Ethnicity (tribalism, racism) is another negative factor in national political development.
Whatever situation occurs, the youths get involved directly or indirectly.
In Britain in 1945, it is generally thought that the youths voted for the Labour Party and rejected the Conservative Party because they associated it with two world wars, the first and the second.
Zimbabwe’s population is now almost 15 million. Most of the people, are, of course, likely to be below the age of majority and are thus ineligible to vote.
However, those who are 18 years and above are certainly more than 10 million.
If about 75 percent of these registered, there would be almost eight million voters in the country.
Saul Gwakuba Ndlovu is a retired, Bulawayo-based journalist. He can be contacted on cell 0734 328 136 or through email. sgwakuba@gmail.com