Empowering Glen View Youth: #Free2Express Campaign Sheds Light on Constitutional Rights
Through these efforts, the organizers aim to empower young people with knowledge of their constitutional rights and encourage open dialogue within communities.
Zimbabwe-In a bid to educate and empower the youth of Glen View, the WELEAD Trust, in collaboration with Magamba Network, hosted a community discussion on Sections 61 and 62 of the Zimbabwean Constitution under the #Free2Express campaign, writes Yeukai Chogurwei.
The event, held on November 8, 2023, saw the active participation of 41 young people and was supported by the Dutch Embassy in Zimbabwe.
The community discussion began with a surprise element, as attendees were initially unaware of the specific sections being discussed.
The organizers used #ConstitutionCulture placards with written sections to spark interest and engagement. To test the participants' knowledge, they asked about the contents of Section 20, revealing that only one person knew it pertained to youth rights.
Surprisingly, none of the participants had prior knowledge of Sections 61 and 62 of the Zimbabwean Constitution. Only 10 out of 41 attempted to define the Constitution, highlighting a significant gap in understanding among the youth.
The Glen View youth expressed gratitude for the informative engagement, acknowledging that it was the first time they had such an opportunity.
One young woman said, "We would like to thank you for bringing the Constitution to our community. As young women, we live in the dark without knowing our rights, and now that we have been educated, we understand our freedom of expression and access to information. This we will share in the community."
However, some participants voiced concerns about expressing themselves freely due to the Patriotic Act, which they perceive as a barrier to democratic discourse.
Brian Mtundwe stated, "It is difficult to express ourselves because of the Patriotic Act because you will be deemed a traitor when you are just trying to point out what you will be seeing as a barrier to a democratic nation."
The community discussion also provided a platform for participants to raise critical issues within their community, such as the challenge of drug distribution.
Attendees expressed awareness of drug bases in the community but cited difficulties in reporting due to the alleged involvement of individuals, including police officers.
Despite these challenges, the youth emphasized the importance of expressing themselves to address issues affecting their peers.
The WELEAD Trust, in collaboration with Magamba, continues its advocacy for Sections 61 and 62 of the Constitution under the Free2Express campaign.
The campaign has already reached various locations in Zimbabwe, including Epworth, Hwange, Budiriro, Bulawayo, Mabvuku, Kariba, Highfields, Marondera, Glendale, Chitungwiza, Gokwe, and Glen View.
Through these efforts, the organizers aim to empower young people with knowledge of their constitutional rights and encourage open dialogue within communities.