Promoting Political Tolerance among Zimbabwean Youth: An Action Research Study

Abstract

This study addresses youth political violence in Magwegwe, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, through participatory action research that moves beyond diagnosis toward transformative intervention. The objectives were to examine how youthled initiatives contribute to social cohesion and empowerment, identify barriers to youth participation, and assess how these experiences inform sustainable interventions in grassroots peacebuilding. Grounded in contact theory, this research engaged 20 purposively selected youth participants to understand political violence and develop context-specific peacebuilding interventions. Through focus groups, key informant interviews, and participatory observation, the study found that youth political violence stems from socio-economic and political factors, including gerontocracy, unemployment exceeding 25%, political manipulation, and lack of tolerance. Five types of violence were documented: election-related violence, factional violence, state-sanctioned violence, gender-based violence, and familial pressure. The collaborative development of peace education workshops, sports-based activities, and communication skill-building resulted in measurable shifts in participants' conflict handling approaches and increased political tolerance. Findings demonstrate that participatory interventions can transform youth from perpetrators of violence to agents of peace, offering a replicable model for similar contexts across Zimbabwe and beyond. The study recommends institutionalising peace education, youth inclusion in governance, and economic empowerment as core strategies for preventing political violence. The research highlights the power of participatory approaches in transitioning youth from instruments used for violence into active agents of peace and social restoration.