Youths should take interest in national politics: Moyo
YOUTHS should take an active interest in the politics of their country as it has a direct influence on their lives, the Minister of State for Information and Publicity in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Professor Jonathan Moyo has said.
He was speaking in the Matabeleland South provincial capital of Gwanda last Friday at a speech and prize-giving ceremony held at Gwanda High School, where he was the guest of honour.
"Sometimes you hear people telling you (young people) that you should have nothing to do with politics as it does not affect you.
"That is not true. Politics affects you,'' Prof Moyo said.
He said it was important for young people to understand the history of their country instead of just embracing and parading that of some Western countries like the United States.
"As young people you must understand that over the years we have become a united nation and that is the legacy that has been given to us by the founding fathers of our nation: the late Vice-Presidents, Cde (Joshua Mqabuko) Nkomo and (Simon) Muzenda and President Mugabe.
"You are told that this has nothing to do with you. That is wrong,'' Prof Moyo said.
He said young people should have self-belief and be patriotic.
"You find some young people here in Zimbabwe putting on T-shirts displaying an American flag and a picture of George Washington.
"Do you know who George Washington was? He was the President of the United States over 200 years ago and you are told you by some people not to wear T-shirts with a picture of President Mugabe. I was happy to see your Imbube group putting on T-shirts written 'Mqabuko' at the back. That is your legacy and you should be proud of it.
''There is nothing anyone is going to do about the fact these are the founding fathers of our nation,'' Prof Moyo said.
He said even the opposition bent on destroying the country could not change that piece of history.
"They can call themselves movement for this (or that), but they will keep moving but will not change our founding fathers. We have President Mugabe and others as our founding fathers. That is your heritage,'' Prof Moyo said.
He said there was nothing wrong with young Zimbabweans going to learn in Western countries like Britain as long as they came back to develop their country.
"However, we do not want you to be modern slaves there. If you have a scholarship you can go and learn, but remember to come back home because there is no place like home,'' Prof Moyo said.
He also took the opportunity to donate three computers and a printer with a total value of $29,5 million to Gwanda High School, where he also officially opened a computer centre.
Prof Moyo also gave students who sang songs and recited poems with
revolutionary themes several hundreds of thousands of dollars as well as donating $2 million to the school development committee.
A Gwanda-based businessman, Mr. Irvine Ndlovu of Woodward Industries, also contributed $1,6 million towards prizes for pupils who excelled in their studies and co-curricular activities at the school this year.
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