Dialectics of Ethnicity and Youth Political Participation in Zimbabwe. Case of Gukurahundi Incident (1982-1987)

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This study sought to analyse how ethnicity contributes towards youth political participation in Zimbabwe. This study examines how Gukurahundi incident between the Ndebele and Shona ethnic groups affect youth political participation in Matabeleland region. The researcher made use of constructivist theory that contends ethnic conflict is the product of a social construct built on one group's experiences, understanding, and attitudes as they perceive another. The study employed semi-structured interviews and secondary sources to collect data. Qualitative data was analysed using textual analysis. The research findings presented that forgiveness is the last resort to make peace regarding the Gukurahundi incident. The social relations between the Shona and Ndebele ethnic groups is largely hostile as the young people are angry as they carry Gukurahundi stories from which their parents or elders are traumatised. The research findings also indicated that financial constraints in the country limit reconciliation as the relatives of the victims of the Gukurahundi demand for compensation. The study revealed that the Shona and Ndebele ethnic conflict can threaten Zimbabwe internal peace stability as long as perpetrators of Gukurahundi incident fail to apologies and offer compensation to the relatives of the victims.