11 As regards employment, 47% were unemployed, whilst 43% had some form of employment in the informal sector, 4% had a short-term contract job, and 1% had a temporary job. No-one had permanent employment. It is perhaps unsurprising that no-one in this sample had a permanent job since the sample was derived from the members of youth groups set up to support youth, and clearly unemployment is the major attraction for joining these groups. The survey asked questions on the following areas: consensus and citizen participation in selfgovernment; popular selection of decision makers; popular control over decision makers; protecting citizens’ equality and their ability to control decision makers; and socio and economic rights. The survey findings were bolstered by in-depth discussion over three, 3-day workshops with representatives of these groups. The findings of the survey were used as the discussion material, and reasons sought for the findings as well as remedies for the problems. The workshops were characterised by vigorous discussion, and a high degree of understanding about the history and the current problems facing Zimbabwe. There was continual reference to the National Youth Service programme and the youth militia during the discussions. Bearing in mind the demographic profile of these youths, – virtually all have O’Level and are unemployed – the preferential treatment given to the “graduates” of the programme leads to great resentment. This resentment is clearly fuelled by the perception in these youth that the National Service programme revolves around a political rather than a vocational orientation. The purpose of the service was supposedly a voluntary training programme for vocational skills, disaster management, patriotism and moral education, but the government has repeatedly stated its intention to make youth service compulsory, with access to tertiary education and public sector positions linked to participation. The overall views of the youths participating in the civic education process can be simply summarised: • • • They do not believe that there are opportunities for open participation in the political, social, and economic life of Zimbabwe; They do not believe that the government is legitimate, and, furthermore, believe that the government has been illegitimately elected. They believe that there must be significant electoral reform if Zimbabwe is to ensure that government’s are legitimately elected; They do not believe that there are any controls over the government, nor that there are sufficient protections for the rights of ordinary citizens;