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Zimbabwe... What is in it for the next generation

I am part of the group of Zimbabweans called the "born frees", essentially we are the ones born after independence. For us born just after independence (1980 - 1990) I believe we benefited greatly from what Zimbabwe had to offer good education system, health was accessible and a large number of our parents were able to improve themselves so as to do better than their parents.

Well for our generation I believe it will be very different. A lot of us will not be able to better what our parents did, it will be a miracle if we do as well.

I have have been lucky to meet some big names in Zimbabwe whilst growing up Moses Chunga (he was a great Zimbabwean footballer) at a Dynamos game in Mbare, Mumwa Mawere at an NDA talk in the 2000s in Mutare. I met a number of politicians; some I liked and some I didn't. But the common thing a lot of them believed was that us the born frees were not doing enough to look after our birth right.... Zimbabwe.

Now I do not know what could have been done to fight for our birthright more than what we do, but I think our elders have not been fair on us. Yes we have been educated. Yes we have been brought up with many freedoms and opportunities not available to many on the continent. But the elders are not correct in continuing to bemoan the next generations shortfalls.

I mean we cannot continue saying the youth are not looking at developing the country when opportunities for us to display our talent are limited at home. I would love to have the opportunity to work for the civil service or start my own company in Zimbabwe. I will probably start something in the near future anyway, but it is difficult to take up ones birthright when one is not allowed to. For a father has to admit his son is grown and allow him to make his own decisions.

I do not think that the elder generation are in anyway obsolete, they must still have a seat at the table and guide us so as to not make the same mistakes as they did, but at some point you got to get away from micro managing and leave that to those you have trained and groomed. i mean can it work if the chairman in a company is involved in day to day running? doe this not destroy the authority of the Managing Director?

I know a lot of this will probably fall on deaf ears, but it is worth it to just have it out there. I mean we cannot continue to have forty somethings being regarded as "Youth" when these people are at the peak of their mental capacities. Should these people not be leading and being advised by senior people? Right now it is the other way round. Things have to change or we will miss out on the economic boom that usually follows the growth in population currently being experienced in Africa.

Just a thought methinks!

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