Review of History and Political Science

Political Violence: Major Socio-Political Consequence of Urban Youth Unemployment in Zimbabwe
Torque Mude

Abstract
Urban youth unemployment in Zimbabwe is a worrisome socio-economic and political pandemic that portends serious challenges facing the political economy of the country. Like other countries in Sub Saharan Zimbabwe is currently facing demographic challenges with most of its young people aged between 15 and 24 failing to secure employment. The objective of this study is to analyze the sociopolitical consequences of urban youth unemployment in Zimbabwe with political violence as a major one. Data was collected through the use of national reports, non-governmental organizations (NGO) reports, books, journal articles and internet. Findings indicate that one of the major effects of urban youth unemployment in Zimbabwe is political violence. High rate of urban youth unemployment in Zimbabwe has had serious political implications in the past decade. Youths out of employment have been the agents of political violence in the country.Unemployed youths are often recruited by political parties such as Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) and others to operate as youth militia members. They have been and are responsible for torturing, intimidating and killing civilians who do not share their political affiliations.

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