|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
VICTORIA FALLS, ZIMBABWE – In a landmark move to amplify youth participation in regional and developmental processes, the Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF) today 7 June 2025 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) on the sidelines of the 57th SADC PF Plenary Assembly in Victoria Falls.
This strategic partnership underscores a shared commitment to fostering inclusive governance, effective youth inclusion, enhancing parliamentary effectiveness, and driving sustainable development across the Southern African region. The joint programming on leadership development, civic education, and legislative advocacy, youth participation in policy will not only empower youth as active contributors, not just beneficiaries of regional progress but active players in regional development.
The signing ceremony also included MoUs with key organizations such as Oxfam, and the Election Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC) among others, highlighting a multisectoral approach to advancing governance and development.
This alliance comes at a critical time as the SADC region confronts pressing challenges, including youth unemployment, climate change, and governance reforms.
As noted by Her Excellency, the Secretary General of SADC-PF who is also the Patron of SAYoF and the Southern Africa Youth Parliament, Hon Boemo Sekgoma, “The SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) remains committed to strengthening inter-institutional collaboration that enhances democratic governance, parliamentary effectiveness, and citizen responsiveness across the region.”
In an acceptance speech, the Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF) represented by Misheck Gondo, the Regional Coordinator during the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Association (MOU), said the MOU provides a framework for collaboration that is essential for addressing the multifaceted challenges facing the region and our young people today.
“In a rapidly evolving socio-economic landscape, it is imperative that we unite our efforts, resources, and expertise to create impactful solutions. This MOU is a commitment to work together, share best practices, leveraging our strengths to foster a prosperous future for young people in Southern Africa.
“This collaboration aligns seamlessly with the goals of the SADC PF and SAYoF. We are prioritizing youth engagement in governance, legislative processes, and policy-making, we aim to ensure that the voices of our young leaders are not only heard but actively shape the decisions that affect their lives. This partnership will enhance our collective efforts to support peace, youth empowerment, democracy, good governance, and sustainable development across the region,” Mr Gondo said.
In the past years, SAYoF has been working with SADC-PF to advance the interests and aspirations of youth in the region. The collaboration has enabled SAYoF to partner during SADC-PF hearings, enabling youth voices in policy-making, partnering on the international youth days, speaking in the Plenary Assembly, and last year in Zambia, the Speaker of Southern Africa Youth Parliament Hon. Nsama Patrick Mpundu submitted some recommendations which were adopted during the 56th Plenary Assembly in Zambia, among them the establishment of the Youth Caucus with SADC-PF.
This year, the SAYof representative of Persons with disabilities within the Youth Parliament proffered several recommendations that have been adopted in the Executive Report and the Final SADC-PF Plenary Assembly Communique. It partnered with SADC-PF to train female parliamentarians in digital technology and social media and worked together with SADC-PF on tobacco control, sexual reproductive rights, and elections. Young people are regularly invited to participate in Gender Equality, Women’s Advancement, Youth Development Committee, and other Standing Committees.
The mutual benefits of the collaboration are profound. As they work together, they can share best practices, resources, and networks, thereby amplifying their impact.
The partnership will also enhance visibility and advocacy for youth-related issues, ensuring that they remain at the forefront of regional agendas. Together, the two institutions can create a powerful platform that elevates youth voices and fosters inclusive dialogue.
Mr Gondo said the signing of the MOU was just the beginning. The next steps will include identifying quick wins and laying out a roadmap for planned activities. They will focus on several thematic areas that are crucial for youth empowerment.
These include leadership development, civic education, entrepreneurship, and peacebuilding.
“We will equip our youth with the skills and knowledge they need to become active participants in their communities, driving change and innovation. We will jointly organize the celebration of International Youth Day. SAYoF will support the work towards the Regional Youth Caucus within SADC-PF, and support youth participation in SADC-PF public hearings. We are collaborating on the hosting of the 7th Southern Africa Youth Forum scheduled for Eswatini in July 2025.
“We appreciate continued support by SADC-PF on the Southern Africa Youth Parliament. We will initiate joint workshops, capacity-building sessions, and youth-led and centered initiatives that create immediate impact. We are also collaborating to establish a Youth Academy, envisioned as a premier capacity-building institution for emerging leaders across the SADC region. We must maintain momentum and engage our stakeholders throughout this process to maximize our reach and effectiveness,” Mr Gondo added.
During the Official opening of the 57th Plenary Assembly currently ongoing in Victoria Falls Zimbabwe, the representative of SAYoF, Honourable Angela Dube, the current Miss Albinism Zimbabwe who represents Persons with Disability in the Southern Africa Youth Parliament noted that “Our partnership with the SADC PF has been pivotal in amplifying youth participation across various platforms. SADC PF has further supported joint efforts with young people to co-create innovative solutions to the pressing challenges we face. We partnered in SADC-PF Public Hearings, SADC Youth Parliament hosting, and the annual Youth Forum,” Hon Dube said.
Both organizations are looking forward to the positive impact of this partnership and are committed to working together to implement the objectives outlined in the MOU.
