HARARE - Outspoken former Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairperson Temba Mliswa says it is high time the country’s youths rise up and liberate Zimbabwe from the present problems that he said cannot be solved by President Robert Mugabe.
Speaking to members of his Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard) in Harare recently, the former Hurungwe West MP said youths have gone to sleep while the older generation has been making disastrous decisions which affect them adversely.
“We want to have a police commissioner or an army commander who is 32 years,…(former Vice President Joice) Mujuru was a minister when she was only 25, but for now we don’t have a minister in that age range, this is because youths are not participating in decision-making processes.
“The likes of (Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander, Constantine) Chiwenga and Shiri (Air force chief Perance) went to war when they were 16 years old.
“But our struggle is not about war, the war has been fought and enough blood has been spilled, the struggle we have to fight is to equally liberate those that went to war to liberate this country, we need to liberate them economically. Because when it comes to economics they are not there and who can liberate them... you”.
Mliswa said youths must confront Zanu PF head-on to claim their space.
“People fear Zanu PF. Our mothers and fathers do not want to question Zanu PF when it goes wrong, but your generations must remove that fear.”
“The only opposition party which Zanu PF is currently facing is the economy.
“I am not saying opposition parties are not doing well. The MDC is doing something, they managed to demonstrate against the Zanu PF misrule.
Mliswa added, “As Yard we want to spread our wings to ward levels, we want to have demonstrations in various wards.”
“We don’t need a book or a constitution to tell us that people are suffering and we also don’t need anyone to tell us that we must act on this current situation.
“Most youths don’t understand even the Constitution, everyone has the right to criticise the president because of the office he holds but not to insult him, and the executive must be brought to account.
“Look at South Africa, the president, Jacob Zuma is facing criminal charges from the young generation in Parliament. We can also do that.”