In a move that may seem unusual, the ruling party ZANU PF has decided to target its unemployed and troubled youths. These youths, often involved in drug abuse, drug dealing, illegal vending, and political violence, have long been ignored by the very system that now blames them. For over 40 years, the government has failed to provide basic services to the people. It has taken away resources that should have been used for improving lives and instead used them for personal gain. The youths, being the victims of this neglect, are now resorting to desperate measures.
These young people have started to use the name of the president to trick people into giving them money. They do this because they need a way to survive in a system that offers them nothing. They have no jobs and no hope, and so they find ways to feed themselves by using their association with the ruling party. What ZANU PF seems to not understand, or simply refuses to see, is that it is the cause of this problem. They are the ones who have failed these young people and caused them to act in such ways.
ZANU PF, which has long been trying to establish a one-party state, continues to act in ways that harm the people. Instead of listening to the cries of its citizens, it buries its head in the sand and pretends all is well. But the truth is clear to everyone: the party is responsible for the suffering of the nation. Its leaders, who enrich themselves at the expense of the country, are the real reason why these youths are name-dropping the president to get by. The party’s failure to create opportunities for the young generation has forced them to take such extreme steps.
If ZANU PF had done its job and provided employment and opportunities, these youths would not be trying to use their connections to the party for personal gain. Instead, they would have meaningful jobs and would contribute to the growth of the country. But because the party has failed in its duty, the youths have been left with no choice but to engage in illegal activities to survive. The president, whom they now use as a tool to scam people, is actually the one who caused the crisis in the first place.
Despite this, ZANU PF leaders are now being told to avoid corruption. This is strange because corruption is at the heart of the party’s problems. How can they stop corruption when it is the very thing that defines them? This is a party that is afraid of the opposition, which has become stronger, more transparent, and more accountable. Instead of trying to win support through good governance, ZANU PF uses violence to suppress those who oppose it. Even elderly citizens who support the opposition are not safe, as they are often attacked. Lawmakers who are part of the opposition are unlawfully detained, as seen with Sikhala and the Budiriro 26.
ZANU PF’s attempts to hold onto power are pushing the country further into chaos. Instead of offering solutions, it continues to rule through fear and violence. The youths who are now turning to crime are simply reacting to a system that has left them no other options. What the ruling party should be doing is fixing the economy, creating jobs, and giving young people hope. But instead, it chooses to blame the victims for their actions, while doing nothing to address the root cause of the problem.
The future of Zimbabwe depends on addressing these issues. The youths are not the problem; they are the result of the problem. It is the government that must change its ways if there is to be any hope for the next generation. Without real reform, the situation will only get worse, and more young people will be forced to take desperate measures to survive.