YOUTH ADVOCACY FOR REFORM & DEMOCRACY (YARD) PRESS STATEMENT REGARDING THE IMPENDING “NATIONAL SHUT DOWN”
By Tariro Daphne Senderayi| A state of democracy is where the Government respects its citizens and responds timeously to the majority’s will. Zimbabwe however, has sadly become an exception to the rule as citizens appear to have exhausted all formal channels to engage the Government in addressing their concerns.
All forms of peaceful and constitutional communication seem to have fallen on deaf ears although there is an urgent need for the authorities to clearly understand that indeed we are outraged at their indifference and insensitivity and that we expect them to act upon those same concerns.
Resultantly, the Youths of Zimbabwe feel that they are left with no option but to join the call and participate in the national stay away scheduled to take place across the country as from Wednesday the 6th of July 2016 until the Government responds positively to our suffering and plight.
We identify with the need for all progressive organisations and citizens to engage in peaceful demonstrations within the confines of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, with particular reference to section 59. Such peaceful displays of frustration will be conducted in locations wherever you are. The constitution of Zimbabwe under section 60 further affords every Zimbabwean the right to freedom of thought and opinion, and the right to express the same in public. We should be given the opportunity to enjoy these same rights free of violation and be free to enjoy our Beloved country with impunity as opposed to the refugee status the majority currently labours under.
YARD will therefore join all progressive movements and citizens in expressing our opinion that we are totally disenchanted by the ineptitude and inaction of Government as the economy continues in its free-fall. This such nose dive of the economy has reached unprecedented levels and now drastically exceeds even the morbid levels of 2008 in all qualitative and quantitative barometers.
We hereby state our grievances as we adopt the stance to urge the citizenry to refrain from violence and unlawful activity and conduct peaceful demonstrations:
1. We demand youth participation and inclusion in policy formulation and implementation. We are not happy with exclusionary policies that are meant to benefit a few black elite (SI64/16 and the impending introduction of the dreaded Bond notes).
2. We further demand that ZANU PF recall their President and First Secretary of their Party as he has become a threat to National Security and the ailing economy.
3. We demand the immediate disbursement of civil servants’ salaries without discrimination. This is over and above the fact that ministers are wantonly enjoying the proceeds of their corrupt escapades and the shocking self-administration of excessive loans/advances at the expense of the suffering masses (Kasukuwere, Parirenyatwa & Mandiwanzira). Furthermore investigations into all alleged cases of corruption must be investigated and the culprits brought to book.
4. We demand the immediate removal of the current roadblocks which have become a torment and are a more prevalent feature than even that of tollgates and a source of extorting meagre resources from poor motorists and loss making public transport operators.
5. We demand that sanity is restored to the banking sector and that each person in possession of a bank account is returned the free and normal access of their hard earned money as and how required, the removal of excessive cash withdrawal charges and an inquiry to be set up to investigate the missing $15 billion dollar allegation.
6. That security of person is assured, that Itai Dzamara and other missing activists are returned and that no one should have to live under the threat of abduction or torture.
Finally we stand in solidarity with all citizens across the political divide in uniting for this cause and peacefully declaring the statement that we have had enough of this uncaring government. ZVAKWANA! SOKWANELE!
End of press statement
Issued by Tariro Daphne Senderayi
Acting Commander in Chief
YARD
05 July 2016