Redefining youth participation: Stay Safe and Stay Loud This Election Season

‎With the elections rapidly approaching, the national temperature is rising, billboards line the streets, and the air is thick with political promises. For young people, this is a defining moment, but it also brings a familiar, exhausting anxiety. Historically, election seasons have treated youth as a commodity to be exploited on the frontlines rather than partners to be heard at the decision-making table. But this year, the narrative has to change.

Staying safe does not mean staying silent. True youth participation is not about being the loud muscle in the streets; it is about being the strategic mind behind the progress.

‎For far too long, the script for election season has been written for the youth, not by them. In mainstream media and political circles, youth participation is too often treated as a synonym for political foot soldiers or clash-ready cadres. When political machinery looks for muscle to disrupt rallies, enforce intimidation, or spark chaos, they systematically target young citizens. But true political power does not carry a weapon, and it does not shout down a neighbor. Real engagement means shifting energy away from the frontlines of political friction and toward policy, community advocacy, and the ballot box.

 Young people are not tools for political convenience; they are the innovators and the essential anchors of a peaceful transition.

‎Protecting yourself during a high-stakes election season is a tactical strategy, not an act of cowardice. The political climate can shift in a matter of minutes, requiring a sharp sense of awareness both on the streets and online. In physical spaces, this means mapping out local hotspots like busy transport hubs or highly charged markets where friction tends to boil over, and actively choosing alternative routes. It also requires resisting the financial bait of quick cash, handouts, or sudden promises meant to buy loyalty for dangerous security detail. The people funding these disruptions rarely face the physical or legal consequences when things go wrong, and a temporary payout is never worth a young person's future.

‎This vigilance must extend into the digital space as well, where social media quickly turns into an invisible frontline of tribalism, hate speech, and cyberbullying. Stepping back from toxic comment sections protects your peace and prevents online arguments from spilling over into real-life confrontations. Crucially, young people must break the chain of misinformation by verifying sources before hitting share or forwarding messages on WhatsApp. If a post is designed to make you instantly furious, it is likely a tool of manipulation rather than fact.

‎When choosing to step away from high-risk confrontation, the question becomes how to ensure youth demands are not ignored. The answer lies in shifting to high-impact, creative advocacy. Utilizing digital tools to write, podcast, or host peaceful, issue-focused online discussions allows young people to demand accountability on critical issues like unemployment, healthcare, and education without exposing themselves to harm. There is also immense safety and strength in numbers; partnering with local youth networks, faith-based groups, and civil society organizations forces politicians to engage with a structured, collective banner rather than exploiting isolated voices. 

‎Ultimately, the most powerful move a young citizen can make is the simplest one. The ballot box remains the ultimate power play, carrying far more weight than any rock thrown, any insult shouted, or any campaign slogan chanted. By refusing to be the tools of division, choosing safety, and focusing on substance, the youth can do more than just survive the election season. They can set a brand new standard for leadership, protect their communities, and let their votes do the real talking.

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‎email: luyakopatience@gmail.com

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‎ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Patience Luyako. She is a medical student at Lusaka Apex Medical University pursuing a Bachelor of Pharmacy. An Article Writer for a Zambian based Newspaper (The Rainbow newspaper) and a rising Mental Health Advocate, She is a dedicated Youth and SDG Advocate specifically focused on SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), working to dismantle the cultural stigma surrounding mental health in Zambia. Luyako Patience authors a weekly Repssi Zambia Mental Health Matters column in the Rainbow Newspaper Zambia Limited (RNZL), on page 3 published every Monday.

‎email: luyakopatience@gmail.com

‎Contact: +260975885144 – Zambia