A recent interview highlighted the despair among Zimbabwean youth, who reported unemployment driving them to crime. With escalating poverty and failed governance under the Zanu PF government, many young people face a bleak future, turning to drugs for relief. There is a pressing need for job creation and economic revitalization to restore hope in this disillusioned generation.
A recent radio interview during the Robert Gabriel Mugabe National Youth Day revealed the despair felt by many young Zimbabweans. Expressing their challenges, youths voiced a significant concern: unemployment is compelling them towards crime. One individual lamented, “We want jobs so that some of us stop engaging in crime such as theft.”
Many youths, some as old as 37, have never experienced formal employment or even held a payslip. This stark reality underscores a larger issue—a generation that feels utterly disillusioned by the lack of opportunities.
The Zanu PF government’s stringent grip on formal job creation has resulted in widespread economic failure, increased unemployment, and a thriving informal sector. As jobs have dwindled, even reputable retailers have started to falter, with many workers losing their positions.
A report from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency indicates the rising poverty levels, with an individual requiring approximately US$50 to avoid being classified as poor. This economic strain has left the youth struggling to provide basic necessities.
In light of this dire situation, discussions around governance seem detached from pressing issues such as job creation or industry revitalization. Instead, a focus on extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s tenure distracts from essential reforms.
The persistent challenges have led numerous youths to seek solace in drug and substance abuse. What remains is the poignant realization—this generation is faced with a bleak future, marked by unprecedented lost opportunities.
The sentiments conveyed by the youth reflect a pervasive hopelessness largely driven by pervasive unemployment and economic turmoil in Zimbabwe. With the Zanu PF government’s focus on power retention rather than job creation and industry revitalization, the future appears increasingly bleak for young citizens. Many now resort to substance abuse, highlighting the urgent need for transformative solutions to restore hope and opportunity.
Original Source: www.newsday.co.zw
