By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
Un Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator HE Edward Kallon says there is urgent need to harness demographic dividend and make youth the bedrock of Zimbabwe’s and indeed, Southern Africa’s development strides.
Addressing the High-Level Ministerial Conference on the role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs), Regional Mechanisms (RMs) and Governments in promoting the Youth, Peace, and Security agenda in Southern Africa, Mr Kallon said this requires an enabling environment of peace and security.
“We need to strengthen youth’s social mobility opportunities in the region to stem the tides of irregular migration flows, involvement in criminality, banditry, drug abuse, xenophobia, and violent extremism,” Mr Kallon said.
He said the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres has been a vocal advocate for the need for Member States to address the roots and structures of violence preventively.
“Prevention must be key in all that we plan to do, because it is cheaper and better than cure. In his 2022 report on Peacebuilding and Sustaining Peace, the Secretary-General affirmed that shifting investments towards the prevention of violent conflicts saves lives and resources, is cost-effective and protects development gains.
“He equally stated that progress towards achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development requires the integration of peacebuilding and sustaining peace into efforts to build back better. Inclusive and sustainable development, anchored in human rights, gender equality and leaving no one behind, is the best defence against violent conflict,” he said.
On the other hand, he said, structural prevention required an acceleration towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and a coherent focus on addressing conflict risks and drivers and enhancing social cohesion through investments in equitable delivery of social services, inclusive institutions, transparent management of natural resource revenues and equal economic opportunities.
“COVID-19 has underscored the importance of switching from crisis response to prevention and the need to better anticipate, prevent and prepare for major risks by having stronger legal frameworks, better tools for managing risks, more participatory, inclusive and gender- and age-responsive approaches, better data and proper financing of prevention and preparedness,” Mr Kallon said.
He reiterated that the United Nations was pleased to see the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2250, following incisive reflections on how best to advocate for more inclusive policies and increased participation and engagement of young people in decision making in the Southern African region.
“I have no doubt that with the calibre of youth representatives we have here, you will leave no stone unturned in proposing tangible initiatives that will contribute to the needed paradigm shift that will begin to unlock the massive potential in the African youths. Indeed, it is time to swing to action and walk-the-talk,” he said.
He expressed at the fact that the continental Youth Envoy, Mrs Chido Mpemba and the Youth Ambassador for Southern Africa, Ms Cynthia Chigwenya were daughters of Zimbabwe.
“It is a vivid demonstration that the future of peace and security in Africa cannot be achieved without the young women of this beautiful continent,” Mr Kallon said adding that, “The UN stands ready to deepen partnership with you all, and to support this effort in a quest to ensure that no youth is left behind.”
Agencies such as UNDP and UN Women have played roles in supporting national endeavours, including the proposed draft Roadmap for the development of a National Strategy on Youth, Peace, and Security for Zimbabwe.
He said this was a critical area of focus in Zimbabwe given that more than 60% of Zimbabwe’s population is below the age of 25 years.
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