Youths empowered to uphold constitutionalism in Zimbabwe’s socio-economic landscape

Rumbidzai Mhlanga

The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) recently held a Youth Constitutional Indaba under its Strengthening Institutions and Youth Agency (SIYA) in Zimbabwe’s Accountability Narratives project.

The event sought to equip youths with knowledge on constitutionalism, public finance management and the vital role of citizen engagement in holding duty bearers accountable. As the youths emerged from the workshop, there was a palpable sense of empowerment and awareness of their constitutional rights and responsibilities.

Community Engagement Officer with ZimRights,Thubelihle Ncube emphasised that the core objective of the Indaba was to deepen youths’ understanding of constitutionalism.

“My presentation centred on understanding the constitution and constitutionalism as the main cornerstones of ensuring that socio-economic rights are fully enjoyed in Zimbabwe. While many young people have a general understanding of the constitution, many do not understand the concept of constitutionalism and the power they hold as general citizens in holding duty bearers to account.The government’s duty is to uphold, respect and promote human rights, while citizens must actively demand the fulfilment of these rights,” she noted.

A major highlight of Ncube’s presentation was her linkage between constitutionalism and public finance management.

“Constitutionalism empowers youths to seek different strategies to ensure the free enjoyment of human rights, as enshrined in the constitution. In terms of the Public Finance Management Act, this means holding duty bearers accountable for all public resources and expenditures, ensuring transparency and seeking remedies in the event of a breach,” she added.

For many young participants, the event was a turning point in their understanding of how they can actively contribute to Zimbabwe’s governance processes. Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) secretary for youth and SIYA Project Secretary for the Pumula constituency,Stanley Moyo,shared his reflections on the training

“As youths, we appreciate the training because we got to learn about what the Zimbabwean constitution entails and how we can use it for the betterment of our lives and communities,” he said.

However, Moyo highlighted a need for improvement, noting that the constitution contains loopholes in its interpretation.

“The Constitution lacks when it comes to its interpretation, given that we have about 16 local languages. It would have been great if it were interpreted in all those languages so that everyone easily understands and has full knowledge of the Constitution.”he said.

Moyo went on to  raise concerns about public participation in policy-making.

“In terms of policies and bills implemented in the country, it would be best if the general public were involved in decision-making. People should influence the policy-making process to ensure their needs are met and their voices are heard,” he remarked.

The training, as explained by Zimcodd Southern Region Treasurer Themba Chiveya, was not just about imparting knowledge but fostering a culture of accountability and integrity among youths.

“We capacitate the youth to hold their leaders accountable and be people of integrity. The objective of the training was to engage the youth on the constitution, focusing on social and economic rights, the Public Finance Management Act and the Freedom of Information Act,” Chiveya said.

He noted that the training aimed to prepare youths to actively contribute to the upcoming budget consultations.

“We wanted to ensure that youths understand the issues affecting their day-to-day lives and raise meaningful points during the budget process,” he concluded.