adminfrom the World Federation of Democratic Youth and the Pan-African Youth Union yesterday weighed in with their support for the embattled African National Congress Youth League president Cde Julius Malema.
The Pan-African Youth Union deputy secretary general Cde Tendai Wenyika yesterday said: “We believe that any leader who suppresses the voice of young people, does not deserve to lead.”
Youth in South Africa clashed with police as the ANC convened a disciplinary hearing for Malema, youth league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu and the entire executive.
Malema is facing charges of bringing the party into disrepute through a statement advocating regime change in Botswana, among other allegations.
“The ANC Youth League statement on Botswana is not isolated from the general opinion of young people in the region.
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“There has been growing concern over the Batswana government contradicting positions to the region over the year,” she said.
Cde Wenyika said the youth league leadership in the region met in Namibia a month ago and resolved that leaders engage President Ian Khama’s government over their attitude towards regional integration and promotion of Pan-Africanism.
“We support the protests in South Africa because young people have the right to claim their space and should never have their views suppressed as provided for in the African Youth Charter that President Jacob Zuma signed on behalf of the South African people,” she said.
Cde Wenyika was part of the youths who witnessed Cde Malema’s resounding re-election as ANCYL president at Galaga Stadium, Johannesburg, in July this year.
“He was unopposed. Cde Malema leads over 70 percent of the ANC supporters as youths make up the largest number of their voters,” she said.
Cde Wenyika challenged the ANC to resolve the issue amicably and avoid the Tunisian-style uprisings that rocked North Africa.
“We, as African youths, call upon the ANC to take action on the call being made by the youths in South Africa to accelerate correction of the economic imbalances in the country,” she said.
The Pan-African Youth Union is a specialised youths agency of the African Union dealing with youth development in Africa.
The running theme for the Africa Youth Day for 2011 is; “Youth Action for Economic Freedom today”.
WFDY vice president Cde Justin Chusaru said the allegations against the ANCYL were being fabricated to hide other critical issues.
“The ANCYL like any other democratic and revolutionary youth organisation is against the military bases in Botswana and across Africa as they pose an imminent security threat to Sadc countries and Africa at large,” he said.
Cde Chusaru said the ANCYL executive was being “crucified” for raising issues that African leaders are not comfortable in handling.
“It is this ANCYL which condemned the voting for a no-fly zone in Libya by South Africa at the UN Security Council and it is the same ANCYL that is also calling for the nationalisation of mines and land reform programme as provided for in the Freedom Charter, which is the bible for the South African revolution,” he said.
Online Reporter