Story by Peter Chivhima
YOUTHS from across the SADC region have rallied behind President Emmerson Mnangagwa, pledging unanimous support as he assumes the SADC chairmanship.
As the 44th SADC Summit beckons, a tidal wave of youthful enthusiasm sweeps across the region, with young leaders from every corner of the region converging in Zimbabwe to pledge their unwavering support to the visionary leadership of President Mnangagwa as he assumes the SADC Chairmanship.
With his transformative agenda, youths are confident that under President Mnangagwa’s wise and courageous stewardship, the region will soar to unprecedented prosperity.
“We are happy that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is the incoming SADC chair and we are convinced that he is going to take the SADC region to a greater heights,” said South African political activist and lecturer, Mr Motsi Qoyi.
“We are happy and convinced that President Mnangagwa will transform the SADC region,” Ms Senani Mamba from Eswatini opined.
Confederation of Young Entrepreneurs SADC Regional Coordinator, Mr Taurai Kandishaya said the visitors have been impressed by the developmental trajectory being pursued by the second republic.
“Young persons are happy to realise that in Zimbabwe, economic emancipation is a reality to the extent that the richest person in Zimbabwe is a black Zimbabwe. The person who drives the most expensive kind of Zimbabwe is a black Zimbabwe. So, they are appreciating the policies of President Emmerson, and empowering young persons. They are also appreciating that the countries are viewed by their people. So, today, we are doing a full-day conference where they are giving presentations, experiences, sharing what they are doing in their countries,” he said.
In his presentation, ZBC acting chief executive officer, Mr Charles Munganasa underscored the importance of the media in promoting youth empowerment and Vision 2030.
“So if you are a people without control of your media, then it means the agenda is set for you by the external forces. And when you do not understand the national agenda, then particularly you do not understand the national development trajectory of the country, because the agenda is being set by other people.
“So, items to do with governance. If you allow external forces to regulate or to inform your people on how the government is particularly managing the country, then you are going to get a run discourse, you are going to be misled, you are going to be misinformed. So the media should speak to issues of national development. The media is the conveyor belt when it comes to development from government to the people because people might never understand what is happening in the country if the media does not speak to it,” he said.
The 44th Ordinary SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held at the New Parliament building in Mt Hampden.
