Dar es Salaam, July 30 -- AS the political drums begin to beat louder and the general election timetable threatens to crash into our calendars like an overexcited DJ at a village disco, let us get a few things straight, especially for the youth. You are not a weapon.

You are not a hired insult machine. And you are certainly not a one-man demolition squad for some politicians wounded ego.

Every election season, it is the same story: Young people promised “something small” (read: A packet of fries and transport money) to go shout down opponents, tear down posters, throw stones, or just act like sugar-deprived toddlers in grown-up chaos. Let us call it what it is and that is being used.

Yes, your energy is real, your presence ...