Is Africa's youth getting the leadership it deserves?
In South Africa this year's ANC Youth League conference will be dominated by a leadership contest. The controversial incumbent, Julius Malema, is accused of dictatorial tendencies, plundering state resources and dividing the league by the campaign team of his challenger for the top position, Lebong Maile.
The ANC Youth League and its leader are regarded as kingmakers, having backed both former president Thabo Mbeki and President Jacob Zuma. The ANC Youth League was founded by Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Walter Sisulu, and every South African president post-apartheid has come through its ranks.
In other countries in Africa, the youth wings of political parties have less historic roots, but they and their leaders also come in for criticism. In Ghana and Uganda, for example, the perception amongst many people is that they are little more than mobs who can be rented by politicians, and are only motivated by a hunger for power and money.
Do the youth wings of political parties wield too much power in your country? Do they actually represent the youth, and their concerns? Are there ways in which these youth wings can be made more effective? Or can real change for young people only come from by-passing existing parties as happened in Egypt and Tunisia?
If you would like to debate this topic LIVE on air on Wednesday 15 June December at 1600 GMT, please include a telephone number. It will not be published.
Comment number 1.
At 16:50 15th Jun 2011, Kingsley Ezenekwe wrote:I cannot readily remember any young leader of note in my country today and the same applies to most countries. The youths are busy serving as paid thugs for politicians who they hope to succeed. The few who have anything good to offer are shut out of the political process by political gamesmanship. And that to me is the sad part of the tale for Africa.
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Comment number 2.
At 18:35 15th Jun 2011, julius wrote:Do we expect responsible leadership from corrupt systems? Leadership is acquired, not inherited and if it inheritable then we can clearly predict their characteristics from the present leadership all over the continent.
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Comment number 3.
At 20:16 15th Jun 2011, rob shaji ajiboye wrote:Gone were d days when there was clear demarcation btw old and young.These days it has become old but stil youthful at heart.Imagine an 81yr old man stil going to d office! Yet he has capable hands in his children .the world has become fight for ur generation. Untill the youth revolutionise the selfish idea of not growing old in the aged and sanitise the system it will still be business as usual!
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Comment number 4.
At 20:58 15th Jun 2011, William Kokulo wrote:African youth are indeed up to tax to take on the challenges adhead, and I hope my colleague in south Africa can settle down their differences and bring to the ANC a vibrant leadership.
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Comment number 5.
At 00:34 16th Jun 2011, AKPAN wrote:These youths are products of our cultural attitudes. If Malema is corrupt, for example, why should that surprise us, given how his ruling ANC elders routinely abuse their positions for enormous personal gain?
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Comment number 6.
At 08:27 16th Jun 2011, Martyn abrahams wrote:Malema as an example is a bad idea. He has absolutely no grasp on what South Africa has been through, how could he he is too young and only uses the benefits of being a youth leader to further his own economic interests whilst claiming to be pious. The youth of Egypt have been through a lot and maybe they, through their own desire for a true democracy will have a better grasp on reality.
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Comment number 7.
At 18:06 16th Jun 2011, Usman muhammed wrote:mostly, African countries are not getting good leadership. not even to talk about serving life leaders in Africa is the most terrible issue which,only God know when it will end!
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Comment number 8.
At 02:40 18th Jun 2011, Malick wrote:Talking from my observation from my own country, The Gambia. The youths are used as tool to oppress and intimidate political opponents. Illiterate and jobless, most of them are used in the security agents or enlist in the army to cement the " eternal" power and rule of the leader.
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Comment number 9.
At 07:47 19th Jun 2011, aminortey wrote:lets form a forum withing the african states, every two years the whole africa youth ,will meet at one africa state. vote to elect a new youth leaders. encourage registration and membership card, the registration fees , to help the orphanage homes, medicine,reserch exct. exct. n/b include both friends and relatives in the diaspora.GOD U ALL
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Comment number 10.
At 00:25 21st Jun 2011, yemti ndienla wrote:African detectors use youth wing of their so called political party as 'gang', and togs to terriorize innocent people. They harras opponents of the regime, including journalist, and internationa observers during elections.These are not the king of people we expect to lead.
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