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Fatima Bulla-Musakwa in KARIBA

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will, from today, hold a three-day training of trainers’ workshop aimed at improving youth awareness of electoral processes.

The workshop is part of efforts to get more young people participating in elections to enhance democracy and governance in the country.

The workshop is funded by the Swiss Embassy in Harare through the Kofi Annan Foundation, and follows two similar workshops held in Harare and Bulawayo last month. 

Participants are drawn from youth organisations, political parties, civil society, religious organisations and university students. 

ZEC Director for Research and Development Dr Antony Chikutsa said the training was expected to bridge the gaps in knowledge on electoral processes among youths.

“We are also anticipating that we will create a team of trainers who can cascade the training to other young people in Zimbabwe through their affiliations,” Dr Chikutsa said.

Manuals used in the trainings were developed by the African Union’s African Governance Architecture. 

The manuals cover six modules: youth access to political and electoral processes, breaking barriers for youth participation, youth participation in the electoral cycle, leadership, communication and engagement, and advocacy and lobbying.

Since the beginning of the year, ZEC has been conducting youth engagement activities with the aim of leaving no one behind.

It also conducted the first ever youth conference, which brought together young people from different political parties, civil society and religious organisations in May. ZEC organised the conference in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation, and the Zimbabwe Youth Council.

In February, ZEC held roadshows in Zaka, Gweru, Tsholotsho, Bindura, Marange, Beitbridge, Zvipane and Mudzi, among other areas.