PSB Insights’ Post

Why the SA youth vote matters? Written by Farai Ntuli, a fellow youth empowerment advocate, this is an article the youth in South Africa must read and action… Your voice is important.. Your time is now #southafricanyouth #elections24

🇲🇦Morocco, a country with a marginalised youth population, has taken positive steps to improve youth representation. 📋Initiatives have been proposed to break down barriers and build trust. Young voices are being empowered in public affairs by policies such as youth quotas in parliament and the National Youth Strategy 2015-2030. While more outcomes need to be delivered, first steps have been taken to improve communication between youth and government. Dive into youth initiatives, policy implementation and successes from Morocco: https://ow.ly/Av2Z50SsBa5 #YouthLedResearch

The Constitution of Kenya grants its citizens the right to participate in political processes. However, various groups, particularly women, youth, and people with disabilities (PWDs), often encounter significant barriers. For example, although youth constitute over 70% of the Kenyan population, less than 40% registered to vote in the 2022 general elections. Women comprise nearly half of registered voters and hold only 23% of parliamentary seats. PWDs continue to have minimal presence in political spheres despite constitutional provisions for their inclusion. As a keynote speaker on Radio Maisha last Sunday and Spice FM today, I delved into the post-election research that we conducted under CRI East Africa. We focused on the participation dynamics of youth, women, and PWDs in Kenyan elections. Our discussion explored the barriers these groups face and brainstormed innovative solutions to enhance their engagement. From advocating for accessible voting stations to promoting inclusive campaign practices, we recognized that improving participation and representation requires concerted efforts on multiple fronts. I was left both inspired and acutely aware of the work ahead. As we strive for a political system that reflects all Kenyans' voices, I appreciate Uraia Trust for the ongoing efforts in keeping the conversation alive.

This past Wednesday I joined a panel on the Afrikaans KykNET program #Prontuit on the topics, youth, elections, leadership & politics in South Africa. It is difficult to share the extend of one's viewpoints on a timed TV program. Which ends up it being mainly soundbites. (Maybe until one master the art of TV panels.) My thoughts in brief: As significant as the upcoming elections are, where participating in elections is an expression of citizenship, elections are one form of such engagements. Political parties are in the main an intermediary organisation in democracy. The deterministic and fatalistic view of political parties are flawed. Ons uitdagings is enorm en verfoeilik, dit laat jongmense vuisvoos. We are entering the 7th phase of a provincial and national elections, where even the anti-corruption and clean governance clique of political parties' manifestos vacilate between the minority of their core claims correct, mostly correct, unproven, incorrect and understated. (https://lnkd.in/dxPHzE-p). I further argue that as parents we do our children a disservice when we prescribe which party to vote for. Offer them a decision matrix, based on which society they wish to live in, principles and values, etc. Don't let our youth be humstrung by our ideological eco-chambers. After Wednesday's panel, I found perspective in Robin Wright's, The New Yorker op-ed, after the July 2021 unrest who wrote: "South Africa proved that it is not superior to other African countries, just as Americans have learned, amid our own turbulence, divisions, and failures, that we aren’t politically special, either. Three decades after Mandela was freed, the racial, class, education, and economic divisions spawned by apartheid still define the country. “The Mandela formula - if we can call it that - failed to deal with a series of issues linked to the country’s political economy,” Peter Vale, wrote, in a tough assessment of his country. “In particular, the century’s long question of white wealth and black poverty: until (and unless) serious efforts are made to address this issue and its attendant features, the pattern of politics will be convulsion followed by impasse, convulsion-impasse, etc.” My interest aligns to what a Mistra voting trends analyses ask: What will be the 'effects of generational shifts in electoral participation and party support'? As the mentioned voting trends report argues, in relation to the 2019 election results, there are a few uncertainties. "The analyses consider, for example, whether slippage in ANC support was converted into proportionate growth in opposition parties, or whether it resulted in reduced participation by registered voters and the voting age population more generally." #Prontuit

🇳🇵Having experienced a turbulent transition to a democracy, Nepal has embraced democracy by including all groups, especially youth in governance. 📋The National Youth Policy is a pillar to youth engagement and the country’s stability. Outlining strategic objectives, the policy advances youth development at local and national levels. Although challenges remain in youth participation rates, young people in Nepal have an active voice in politics. Dive into youth initiatives and policy successes in Nepal: https://ow.ly/eOsq50SsC8p #YouthLedResearch

Absent representational democracy, there can be no meaningful inclusion. In this piece, l interrogate women's representation in the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe. The metrics reveal that the Mt Hampden Parliament is male dominated. Let's engage. #InvestInWomenAccelerateProgress #womensmonth #ZimRights

Giving all citizens an equal chance to participate in the political peregrination of our nation is the most profound path that can help consolidate our democracy. However, some citizens have been hindered from participating in political activities by retrogressive acts such as political violence. The country witnessed a rise in the number of violent acts against politically active women between 2016-2021. Political Violence Against Women deters women from freely participating in political activities and is a fundamental violation of their human rights. I am excited to share my publication on Strategies to Mitigate Political Violence Against Women in Matero Constituency of Lusaka District Zambia. The strategies have been proposed and recommendations have been made. Stakeholders as well as policy makers in Matero Constituency can find this work useful. We need to put an end to all forms of violence in the political landscape of Zambia. We need to create a level playing field for all political players.

Women’s Representation in the 10th Parliament: The Metrics As Zimbabwe and the world at large, commemorates Women’s History Month and international women’s day on this, the 8th of March – there is no better time to reflect on and interrogate women’s representation in the 10th Parliament in Zimbabwe. Numbers don’t lie. The metrics will aid us in gauging the state of women inclusion in governance and politics in Zimbabwe. According to ZimStats, (2022) women constitute 54% of the Zimbabwean population and approximately half of the electorate. However, there is a representational mismatch between the women’s population and the number of women directly elected into Parliament. Only 22 women (10%) were directly elected for the 210 national assembly seats. This not only reflects the underrepresentation of women in governance but the deafening absence of representational democracy in the country. Read the full blog from Phillip Nyasha Fungurai our Learning and Innovation Catalyst at Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) by clicking the link below 👇👇 https://lnkd.in/dhqQ-y8B

Ahead of #Ghana's 2024 December Presidential Elections, we are pleased to share a study on political vigilante groups and their roles in electoral discourse and activities. Political ‘vigilantism’ has a long history in Ghanaian politics. Despite being outlawed in 2019, many of these groups continue to operate showing little regard for the law. This study was conducted by the University of Cape Coast Department of Peace Studies, led by Dr. Kaderi Bukari with support from Elva Community Engagement, and funded by USAID - Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) Littorals Regional Initiative (LRI).    The findings reaffirm that, despite efforts to downplay their role, vigilante groups still have a significant—and potentially violent impact on Ghanaian political discourse, especially ahead of potentially contentious elections.   Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/esg4MKjT   We invite you to share your thoughts and join the conversation on the impact of political vigilantism on Ghana’s democracy.   #USAID #OTI #Ghana #Elections #Electoralviolence #Politicalviolence #Democracy #CreativeAssociates

Excited to share my views on signifance of Youth Participation in Constituency Politics for Policy Reforms in Pakistan. The current lack of political activism in youth these days and the uncertainty about elections are indeed alarming. That’s why, youth should be taken aboard in policy making and policy reforms too. Otherwise, they’ll feel alienated and marginalised in their own country which may lead to more chaos and instability. #youth #politics #policymaking