24 Hopes for the future It should not be thought that these Zimbabwean youth are helpless in the face of the many problems that they identify. The youth have solutions to the problems they face, and they wish to be engaged in resolving these problems. Interestingly, they are reluctant to let someone else take over the process, and see themselves as having the capacity to be primary actors in the Zimbabwe crisis. Before they tackle the problems though, the youth feel that they have been disempowered, and they want skills that will allow them to resolve the problems. They realise that the youth are a potentially powerful group, but they are not united in purpose, and acquiring certain skills would ensure that the youth are able to work towards unity. These skills include leadership skills, how to identify this quality in others, and how to nurture it in themselves. Motivational skills are also required. These must be based on a peace building approach, and include the networking and mobilising skills that will enable them to bring people together peacefully, as well as to be able to target influential groups and individuals. The youth felt that it should ordinarily be the government who should be responsible for this training, but, in the current climate, the youth preferred to approach non-partisan organisations for assistance, and, while they are learning, they should not be drawn into politics at any level. This is clearly a response to the partisan nature of the National Youth Service programme. In order to achieve these goals, the youth wanted to do the following: · · · · Attend leadership sessions; Form clubs that discuss leadership, democracy and governance issues; Invite MP’S and other leaders to these sessions and workshops; Inform people and share the information that they have. One of the stronger points raised was that the youth need information in order to participate in a turnaround strategy. They want it to be accurate information that they will be able to share with others. They want to teach people about democracy at any available forum, removing the political sting associated with it, and come to a mutual understanding about it. They stressed the point that there is no common goal or vision in the society, and no uniform understanding of democracy in Zimbabwe. The youth believe that misinformation is being used to suppress the people, and, furthermore, that important issues are mystified. The impression given is that only the educated will understand, and the povo need not bother themselves with such issues, as those in government will look after them. It is the general feeling that the information they have is inadequate, and they want the space to be able to seek and gain any information they require without restrictions. AIPPA should therefore be repealed, as they feel that this is the main hindrance to the freedom of expression and access to information. However, the youth are seeking alternative ways of keeping themselves abreast of what is happening. Some of the suggestions tabled were: · · · · Encourage a culture of reading; Encourage friends and family to watch the news; Get information and know one’s rights, and be able and prepared to defend these rights; Lobby for the return of independent newspapers. The youth were strongly of the view that they want greater control over their decision makers, and they know that this can be done through the electoral process. If the youth are voting for someone who lives within their constituency, they feel that they will be able to have control. However, they still need IDASA: Zimbabwe at the Cross-Roads: Views of Zimbabwean citizens on democracy and transitional justice.