Africa

Resolution of IUSY African Committee Leadership Conference 13-14 September 2019

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The IUSY African Committee Leadership met from 13-14 September, 2019, at Gaborone, in Botswana. The conference was held under the theme Youth Opportunities in Africa & How We Can Guarantee Decent Work for Youth was officially opened by Ms. Motsei RAPELANA, BCP Chairperson and UDC Executive member and the conference was chaired by Benedicta LASI (IUSY Vice President).

During the two days, delegates from IUSY organisation members discussed:

  1. The correlation between Youth Unemployment and the rising Crime rate in parts of the continent. Participants have identified unemployment as the main causes of the high rate of crime. Furthermore, they identified among others, corruption, poor quality and lack of education, lack of materials and infrastructure as causes of youth unemployment.
  2. Participants also asserted that Corruption is the main cause of unemployment in Africa, and corollary poverty and inequality. Faced with all ills, participants have identified the continent underutilised opportunities and youth who makes around 60% of the continent’s population as a force capable to bring solutions and change the trend. Among the continent’s opportunities identified are the transformation of natural resources and development of tourism and agriculture. Along with these opportunities, they also stated the need to consider the fourth industrial revolution and knowledge economy as emerging ideas that required attention of African governments. Participants, also, stressed on the need for youth political participation. They urged youth to lead from all positions – academia, business, politics, etc.
  3. Participants reflected on decent work for youth. Each organisation highlighted some challenges and has proposed solutions being short, medium and long-term to identified challenges. For:
  • Botswana Congress Party (BCP): Slow economy growth, lack of infrastructure, resource-led economy and corruption are main challenges to decent work.
    The party has proposed investment into and modernisation of infrastructure such as roads and railway lines; implementation of labour intensive and public programmes and; robust development of SMEs and of informal sector as solutions to decent work challenges.

  • National Democratic Congress – NDC (Ghana): High rates of corruption and nepotism within the current government has stalled equitable economic development within the country. This has caused high rates of unemployment and the quality of work has also been impacted negatively. The party advocated for an aggressive fight against corruption and the advancement of progressive policies that will guarantee development not just for the rich but for the indigent.
  • People’s Democratic Party – PDP (Zimbabwe): Autocratic regime and corruption have been identified as challenges to decent work for youth. As regards to solutions to these challenges, the party recommended democratisation of the country, Zimbabwe, and the creation of Anti-corruption Commission.
  • SWAPO Party (Namibia): Highlighted resource-led economy as the main challenge and they recommended industrialisation and development of agriculture.
  • SWAYOCO (Swaziland): Corruption and nepotism have been identified as challenges to decent work for youth. Democratisation of Swaziland is seen as the solution for decent work by the party.
  • UDPS (Democratic Republic of Congo): Corruption, outdated education system and poor education quality and mineral resources-led economy are challenges to decent work for youth.The party has proposed as part of the solutions;
    Concerning Corruption: Payment of good salary to public employees; Asset Declaration Bill; and the Creation of an independent Anti-corruption Directorate. As regards to Education; Review of educational curriculum according to economic needs; Improvement of teachers’ living conditions. Economic diversification with development of labour intensive sector such as agriculture and tourism; Creation of youth funds; Entrepreneurship promotion and Crowd funding have also been identified as solutions to decent work.
  • UJSARIO: Current Moroccan occupation, the plunder of natural resources by Morocco and the Status of refugee imposed to Western Saharan people are main challenges to decent work for youth.
    As solution, the party has requested the support and advocacy to the campaign about the plunder of Western Sahara’s natural resources with the slogan STOP THE PLUNDER.
  1. As regards the AU policy on enhancing youth employment, H.E. Malainin Mohamed MOH-FADEL, Ambassador of Western Sahara in Botswana, said unemployment is not the problem that the continent is facing, it is rather the symptom of the many problems that are lack of adequate infrastructure, corruption and poor quality of education lacking innovation.

Many policies, programmes and strategies have been developed by AU since 2007 but however, none of them has been implemented.

He has further stressed the necessity for youth to educate themselves about AU policies and strategies such as, for instance, the TVET Continental Strategy and Youth Decade Plan of Action that focus on 5 key priorities areas namely: Educational and Skills Development; Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship; Governance, Peace and Security; Youth Health and Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and lastly; Agriculture, Climate Change and the Environment.

Concerning the contribution of socialist movements, His Excellency, has pledged among others to Left parties to go back to the socialist principles, raise awareness among young people regarding the AU’s policies since they are very socialistic. He also urged young people to political engagement.

  1. IUSY AFC organisation members raised concerns about funding challenges for political activities of youth wings of political parties on the continent. They also recommended, as strategy to raise political interest among youth as well as strengthening governance, the engagement of young persons, under 18 as they form the foundation of the next generation of leaders and it was imperative to preparing them for leadership and as change agents for their community as done by SWAPO Party Youth league – SWAPO Party Pioneers Movement.
  2. The IUSY AFC requested organisation members to set up 6 working groups namely:
    1. Economy and Trade Working Group
    2. Education Working Group
    3. Politics, Rule of Law and Governance Working Group
    4. International Relations and Partnerships Working Group
    5. Youth Empowerment Working Group; and
    6. Women Empowerment Working Group

Organisation members are requested to report on activities of these working groups or Networks and communicate to IUSY AFC leadership names of their representatives. The deadline for this is set for 31st October 2019.

  1. The IUSY AFC inform member organisations about the Decent work for Youth Campaign and requested them to engage in the campaign by providing pictures, videos and statement where party’s logo and that of IUSY should be shown. The campaign would be held in October 2019.
  2. The IUSY AFC condemn the arrest of Mr. Gift Ostalos SIZIBA, Secretary General of MDC Alliance of Zimbabwe, on 12th September 2019 at the Zimbabwean airport who was on his way to attend this Africa Committee meeting in Gaborone. We call for the case instituted against him by the Government be dropped and his passport handed over to him. The AFC considers this an onslaught on democracy and fundamental Human Rights and condemns it in no uncertain terms.

DECENT WORK FOR YOUTH 

Gaborone, Botswana, 14th September 2019

Call for Registrations: African Committee Leadership Conference 2019!

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Overview

What:             Regional committee meeting for members of the African region

When:             12-15 September, 2019 (including travel dates)

Where:           Gaborone, Botswana

Age/gender: 18-35 years old and gender balanced delegations only

Size:               2 participants per member organisation

Deadline:       1 July 2019

 

Outline

The African Committee Leadership Conference 2019 will bring together the young leaders of IUSY member organisations from the African region. The AFC will be organised in partnership with our member organisation Botswana Congress Party Youth League. The aim of the meeting is to strengthen the partnership among IUSY member organisations and enhance the cooperation in the region. The meeting will offer a platform to discuss current political situations in the region, give space to engage in a dialogue on common struggles and obstacles, and work together to come up with strategies to enact political and social change. Participants can look forward to getting involved in political debates and discussions, sharing experiences and ideas and building up their regional network. There will also be an added focus on skill building. Committee Meetings are the most important platforms for the regions in between the IUSY Congresses and Councils.

The theme of the Committee Meeting in 2019 “Youth opportunities in Africa & How We Can Guarantee Decent Work for Youth”

Unemployment is a global phenomenon whereby eligible workforce of a nation is disengaged in the service of the nation. It is not only a serious economic issue but has social implications that affect almost all countries and all people either directly or indirectly. It causes social disquiet and is the harbinger of the spate of crimes, perennial youth unrest and unstable socio-economic structure that has bedevilled several nations.

Africa indeed is a very rich continent with a potential youth percentage and while security is the key factor to stability and economic growth, unemployed and the luck of descent work for youth in Africa is a big drive to violence and instability across the continent, how can we as socialist youth address this issue and contribute to right policies toward a better and adequate work opportunities for youth in Africa?

For any questions or remarks please don’t hesitate to contact the IUSY Secretariat at iusy@iusy.org

We are very much looking forward to seeing you!

With best regards,

Johanna Ortega                                                                    Ana Pirtskhalava

           IUSY President                                                                IUSY Secretary General

 

Participant profile

Each member organisation in the region may register up to two participants for the meeting. Please note that delegations MUST be gender-balanced and a delegation cannot consist of two men. All participants must be aged 18-35 years old, with no exceptions. IUSY statutes as well as the Global Project require gender balance in order to be able to participate in the meeting. Participants must hold a leadership position in their organisation and member organisations will need to approve all applications.

Participants must be able to attend the entire programme. The working language of the meeting is English and French. Translation between French and English will be provided.

How to apply

Participants must apply by completing the online registration form latest by 1 July, 2019. All applicants will receive the outcome of their application within 1 week of the application deadline. Click here to fill in your registration or copy paste the link to your browser: https://forms.gle/DKEdGShJLKbFyLsZ8

Participation fee

The participation fee for the activity is 30€ per person and must be paid by 22 August 2019. The participation fee will cover accommodation, meals, refreshments and programme for the duration of the event. Any additional nights’ accommodation must be arranged and paid by participants.

Once you have made the bank transfer, please send a payment receipt to iusy@iusy.org. Please be aware that IUSY cannot take responsibility for any bank fees. If you are unable to make a bank transfer in advance you must inform us before 22 August 2019.

Outstanding membership fees and/or debts

Please note that only organisations without outstanding membership fees or debts are entitled to receive travel reimbursement. Therefore, we would ask for organisations to transfer their outstanding fees or debts by bank transfer as soon as possible.

If you are unable to pay your membership fee and/or debt, please contact the IUSY Secretary General Ana Pirtskhalava (ana.pirtskhalava@iusy.org) and IUSY President of Control Commission (roland.gur@iusy.org) to discuss possible options.

Travel reimbursement

Travel reimbursement is available up to a fixed reference price. Only economy tickets will be reimbursed. Kindly note that only gender balanced delegations are entitled to the maximum amount of reimbursement.

All travel reimbursements will be made in euro via bank transfer after the meeting. No travel reimbursement will be available in cash on the event without prior agreement at least one week in advance of the event. This applies to very exceptional cases and should be discussed with the Secretariat.

Please note that IUSY can only reimburse cost of travels proven by original documents. Therefore, do not forget to keep and hand in to the IUSY Secretariat ALL of the following documents at the meeting:

Flights:

  1. Booking confirmation, itinerary and ticket (emailed in advance to iusy@iusy.org)
  2. Original boarding passes for all flight segments (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  3. Local travel tickets, where relevant (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  4. Your bank account details (please make sure you bring them with you)

Train/coach:

  1. Booking confirmation, itinerary and ticket (emailed in advance to iusy@iusy.org)
  2. Original, stamped tickets for all journey segments (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  3. Local travel tickets, where relevant (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  4. Your bank account details (please make sure you bring them with you)

Car:

  1. Origin address and route map (emailed in advance to iusy@iusy.org)
  2. At least one gas/fuel receipt (given to the Secretariat on arrival)
  3. Your bank account details (please make sure you bring them with you)

Reference prices for travel reimbursement

Travel reimbursement will be offered to participants up to the fixed reference price below and upon proof of the requested documents above. Visa costs are included within this reference price. The reference prices below are for two delegates. If one delegate will be attending the meeting only half of the reimbursement will be made.

Country Organisation Travel Reimbursement
Angola J MPLA €150,00
Benin J PSD €280,00
Botswana BCP €0,00
Burkina Faso PDP/PS €150,00
Burkina Faso UNJ/MPP €150,00
Cape Verde J Do PAIC €250,00
Central Africa MLJC €250,00
Chad M3F €200,00
Democratic Republic of Congo Ligue Des Jeunes De L’Union Pour La Democratie Et Le Progres Social €200,00
Equatorial Guinea CPDS €200,00
Gabon MJU €200,00
Gambia YUDP €250,00
Ghana NDC YL €150,00
Kenya LPK YC €150,00
Mali JADEMA €200,00
Mali UJ-RPM €200,00
Morocco IY €200,00
Namibia SWAPO €100,00
Niger OJT €200,00
Senegal MNJS €200,00
South Africa ANCYL €80,00
Swaziland SWAYOCO €80,00
Tanzania CCMYL €180,00
Togo CDPA €180,00
Tunisia JCD €180,00
Uganda UYD €180,00
Western Zahara UJSARIO €250,00
Western Zahara UESARIO €250,00
Zimbabwe MDCYA €100,00
Zimbabwe PDP €100,00

Please note that this amount might change when the participant group has been selected.

Visas

The IUSY Secretariat will support visa applications for the event. If you require a visa, please send a copy of your passport to iusy@iusy.org as soon as possible, so the secretariat can draft a visa invitation letter for you. Please note that you have to arrange the appointment with the consulate/embassy yourself.

Travel

Arrivals and Departures

Day of arrival for the IUSY African Leadership Conference is 12 September and the day of departure is the 15 September. Please make sure to arrange your travel accordingly and do not forget that IUSY will NOT be able to cover accommodation or any other additional expenses for delegates who need to stay additional nights in Botswana.

How to get to the hotel

Details on the how to get to the hotel and venue will be provided at least two weeks before the event. Please note that to be able to get an airport transfer you need to send us your travel details by the 22 of August.

Accommodation and meeting venue

Detailed information about the hotel and meeting venue will be sent to all participants nearer the time, at the latest two weeks in advance of the event.

Cancellations

There will be a 30€ cancellation fee charged to each organisation whose participant withdraws after 22 of August, 2019 without a valid reason.

Contact

Amanda Lilliefeldt

IUSY Project Manager

Email: iusy@iusy.org or amanda.lilliefeldt@iusy.org

Phone: +43 699 135 32 970                         

We are looking forward to receiving your registrations!

Zimbabwe needs a democratic governance in the shortest time possibile

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Zimbabwe - the Africa committee in South Africa

It has been reported on the 14th of November, 2017 that the military in charge of Zimbabwe announced through a spokesperson that the governance of the Country has been taken over by the military in its quest to purge the country of people who they believe have plunged the country into “social and economic suffering.”

The Africa committee of the International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) calls on the military and other stakeholders in Zimbabwe to exercise restraint in their actions as they work at finding a lasting solution to the current political developments.

The supreme interest, safety and well-being of the people of Zimbabwe should be the suprime-priority for the interim period that the military assumes the helm of affairs.

Africa has a well-documented and unfortunate history of harsh military regimes that have engaged in widespread violations of human rights after the usurpation of constitutional governments. Consequently, Africans have grown averse to military interventions in governance and have developed a commitment to stable, peaceful, and prosperous democratic governance.Zi

The IUSY Africa committee shares in the collective concern of the people of Zimbabwe on the possibility of a new military dictatorship.

The Africa Committee of IUSY therefore calls the international community particularly the African Union and the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) to take pragmatic steps to ensure that the situation in Zimbabwe does not deteriorate.

The IUSY Africa Committee further calls on the people of Zimbabwe, especially Political parties, Civil society, and the media to actively, progressively and peacefully work with the leadership of the Military to restore the country to democratic governance in the shortest time possible.

Urgent call to action against looming famine in parts of Africa and Yemen

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According to its report on 21 February 2017, UNICEF confirmed that almost 1.4 million children are at imminent risk of death from severe acute malnutrition this year, as famine looms in Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen.

Why are there still famines in parts of the world in the 21st century?  What can be done about it?

The pronouncement of famine in these countries must serve as a wake-up call to all leaders of the developing world, particularly African leaders, to improve on their agricultural sectors to ensure food security for citizens.

The sheer scale and severity of the food insecurity on the African continent and in other parts of the world such as Yemen requires a much stronger response than has been the norm, and the political commitment of world leaders in halting its spread.

In Africa, poverty is undoubtedly the most fundamental cause of famine.

The failure of governments to address issues of chronic poverty has become the perpetual bane of development on the African continent and other parts of the world.

The effects of climate change further pose severe risks to the economies of developing countries, particularly those in Africa.

It is therefore imperative that there is a swift and continuous response on the part of the international community of nations to address issues of carbon emissions and improving environmental protection laws.

African governments cannot fail to notice the need for long-term planning that guarantees a high level of food security in their respective countries.

Prioritization of food security through improved agricultural production and access to food products must not be compromised.

It must be high on the agenda of the African Union and its member countries.

It is equally important to point out the fact that protracted conflicts within States have largely contributed to the ailing economic crisis leading to these famines, such is the case in Yemen and the conflict-prone nations in Africa.

Although there has been much rhetoric on the need to end conflicts in States like South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Yemen and Syria, substantial progress has not been made in terms of peace building and humanitarian assistance within these states.

These conditions leave much to be desired of the efforts of international organizations such as the United Nations Security Council and other international agencies and governments whose actions and inactions contributed to the current conflict situations.

As IUSY calls for a cure to the root causes of famine on the African continent and the Arab League, the world must not be too slow to act to mitigate the effects of prevailing circumstances.

We therefore call on the international community for emergency aid to the affected countries for the protection of human lives.

We further call on the African Union and all other sub regional organizations to strengthen cooperation and support to neighboring countries on the brink of famine to ensure that this imminent crisis is averted.

As a people of common purpose, we have a looming crisis on our hands and IUSY calls for urgent international support of aid agencies and governments to save the lives of persons at risk of death as a result of this predicament.

Food security must be considered a key to ensuring the fundamental right to life of all humans and this underlines our values of solidarity and equality for all.