Youth Forum comment on the D-Day of American presidential campaign.

Youth Forum like all other pro-democratic forces would like to commend the level of tolerance and co-existence which was prevailing during the campaign for presidential election. The candidates could share the same platform to market their policies to the electorate.

The supporters of Obama and McCain could socialise with their party regalia without any harm. Incidences of violence and foul play were very minimal and isolated. Whatever the outcome of today’s election the Youth Forum would like to congratulate the people of America for their maturity as exhibited by their positive behaviour throughout the election period.

We also hail the democratic space which is available in United States of America as evidenced by the change of leadership six times from 1980, a period when this nation was born. Unfortunately in this country it has been only one person, Robert Mugabe who has been at the helm of this country from that time giving a false impression that he is the only person who has the capacity to lead this country.

We also support the stances of both Obama and McCain in relation to the Zimbabwean situation since they have all condemned the crisis as cooked by Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF party. Of great recognition is Obama’s letter to George Bush on March 11 2007 encouraging him not to lift sanctions on Zimbabwe until Robert Mugabe is out of office. As the youths of Zimbabwe we support such firm actions against emerging and existing dictators in the world. We take this opportunity to encourage the incoming leader to take even sterner measures against Mugabe’s tyrannical regime.

This is the first stage towards the emancipation and redemption of the people of Zimbabwe who are surviving in a typical war situation. The regime is refusing to respect the people’s will as expressed on the 29th of March 2008 when the last election was held in this country. It is still clinging to power ,running the country with an illegitimate government.
In the on-going power sharing deal between ZANU PF and two MDC formations, ZANU PF wants all powerful ministries despite losing the election. This is resulting in the delay to conclude the deal which should usher in an inclusive government which will allow the resuscitation of the battered economy.

It is doing so at the expense of the suffering masses as a result of hunger ,with more than 5 million facing starvation according to humanitarian NGOs and human rights watchdogs. There is a massive cholera outbreak whilst the health delivery system has collapsed just like all other critical delivery systems. This situation if left like this Zimbabwe will literary collapse.

We therefore reiterate, once again, the need to act by the international community. SADC cannot solve this impasse since it is already divided.

The Youth Forum appreciates regional and international solidarity to the people of Zimbabwe as expressed through the efforts of SADC, AU and the UN BUT maintains that the freedom of the people of Zimbabwe lies idle in the streets of Harare.