• SPEAKER of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini (right) with Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, African region chairperson Lindiwe Maseko after the official opening of the third CPA Africa Region Youth Parliament in Lusaka yesterday. (Inset) some of the participants follow proceedings.
Picture by CHUSA SICHONE

By CHARITY MOONGA-
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Patrick Matibini has called for the involvement of youths in enhancing democracy and development in the region.
Dr Matibini said it was of concern that despite youths being in the majority, they were not represented adequately in formal political institutions and processes such as parliaments, political parties, elections and public administrations.
He said this at the official opening of the 3rd youth parliament of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa region held at Parliament in Lusaka yesterday.
The two-day meeting under the Theme: ‘Shaping the Future by Empowering the Youth through Youth Parliament,’ attracted participants from Cameroun, Ghana, Gauteng, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia and Zanzibar.
Dr Matibini, who is CPA Zambia branch president, called for the active involvement and meaningful participation of young people in their societies to effectively respond to their needs and guarantee that their basic human rights were recognised and enforced.
He said it was important for regional countries to remove barriers to youth participation and create an enabling environment and capacity building for the youth.
He urged the CPA Africa region to play an active role in enhancing youth participation in national affairs.
CPA Africa region chairperson Lindiwe Maseko urged regional countries to be committed to youths and work together to eradicate unemployment, poverty, immorality and diseases such as Ebola.
She said youths should be involved in issues affecting them, to assist promote democracy and good governance.
Ms Maseko further urged youths to be patriotic and embrace education for their benefit.
Youth, Sport and Child Development Minister Chishimba Kambwili said youths should be allowed to participate in the governance process without discrimination and pledged the Zambian Government’s determination to work towards that goal.
He said Government would facilitate the creation of platforms for youth participation in decision making at all levels of governance and prioritise education and skills attainment.
He cited the Government infrastructure development programme in education, which included the building of universities in all provinces and the on-going skills development, as ways that Government was using  to enhance youth participation in development.
Mr Kambwili urged youths in the region to get involved in citizenship duties and uphold democracy, the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In a vote of thanks, Rwandan youth Ivan Mukwire commended the CPA for recognising the role of young people in the decision making process.