Formation of SADC youth union deferred

Francis-NhemaBy Monica Cheru-Mpambawashe Recently in Victoria Falls
The Meeting of SADC Ministers responsible for Youth last week could not come up with a firm decision to create a regional youth union after member states youth representatives failed to form a quorum.

In his capacity as chairperson and host Zimbabwean Minister of Youth

Cde Francis Nhema said that SADC had taken note of the recommendations proposed by the represented youths but the ministers would only officially discuss them when a full meeting of youth representatives has been held.

“The youths have recommended that we increase support for them to participate in food production and distribution as well as the management of natural resources as well as the establishment of a SADC youth union to coordinating regional youth empowerment.

“These points are all very important and nothing will be thrown away as I have instructed the secretariat to record them. But we will only act on what comes out of properly constituted meeting,” he said.

Ministers responsible for youths from Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa, and Seychelles attended while other SADC countries sent high level representatives. The minister from Democratic Republic of Congo was delayed due to logistical challenges. Botswana could not attend due to elections in that country.

The youth representatives’ meeting should have seen the refinement of proposals that they came up with at a meeting held in Malawi in April this year chief of which is the formation of a SADC youth union.

Countries including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, DRC and Angola have already put forward their interests in assuming key posts in the proposed union.

Empower youths now or face catastrophe: Nhema Minister of Youth Cde Francis Nhema has urged regional governments to urgently address challenges faced by young people or face catastrophe.

“More than 75 percent of our youths is under the age of 35. This is scary as it can be a threat or an opportunity for development of the region,” the minister said.

He said this in his official welcome remarks at the Meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for Youth running under the theme “Youth Empowerment and Participation for Sustainable Development” held here yesterday (Friday). Ministers responsible for youths from Angola, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, South Africa and Seychelles attended while other SADC countries sent high level representatives. The minister from Democratic Republic of Congo was delayed due to logistical challenges.

The meeting of ministers was preceded by meetings of youths from the region and senior officials from relevant ministries.

Minister Nhema warned that there is need for policy and decision makers to recognize that modern day youths are not a new version of their own young days. He said the young people are a totally different group with its own specific definition and therefore in need of unique solutions to their challenges.

“Recently I had meeting with the youths and they told me in no uncertain terms that any decision taken for us without us is against us. Therefore we must take into cognisance that the youth of today is not like the youth of yesterday.”

The challenges are topped by high unemployment rates, and include lack of opportunities, natural disasters and disease.

He urged policymakers and decision makers to look for those things that matter most to the youths and then balance this with the wisdom of good guidance and experience to groom youths into useful citizens. He said that rural urban migration which is not backed by parallel opportunities for the young people spawns destitution which results in vices like prostitution and violence. He urged all SADC governments to urgently look at ways to create opportunities for the youths, a demographic group with special needs.

“Youths face a lot of challenges that retard their contribution. High school dropout rates, low progression to tertiary qualifications which all result of the low skills.

“Those who fail to rise to gain degrees have been left by the wayside. We need to give opportunity to those we call drop outs to use their hands and minds to create income and sustainable livelihoods.”

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