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5TH CYP


Mason Nkabinde, MYP, of Mpumalanga Mr Nkabindi was a Member of the Youth Parliament representing Mpumalanga and was the Government Chief Whip in the 5th Commonwealth Youth Parliament. Currently employed as a security and protocol co-ordinator in a South African company, he holds a National Higher Certificate in information technology and software development from Tshwane University of Technology in Nelspruit.


It was a great pleasure that I took part in the 5th Commonwealth Youth Parliament (CYP) held in London in 2012. I can confirm that it was a valuable experience for all the young people present. I assure the CPA that the young


people will continue to prosper, as the purpose of the CYP was among other things to share experiences among ourselves as youth from completely diverse backgrounds and I think this purpose was met to its fullest. As I was attending the CYP, I


received an update which read: “This December the rich and wealthy will be on holiday, the aspiring to be rich and powerful will be in Mangaung (the South African city where the ruling African National Congress was formed and which hosted the party’s 53rd conference in December), workers will be in the shop floor maximizing profit for the rich while the youth will be on the streets Idling.” I shared this update with


some members of the CYP, particularly those in the government Commonwealth Democratic Alliance (CDA), of which I was part. The last part of the update got us thinking


many issues facing the modern world – poverty, underdevelopment, HIV and many other forms of societal challenges – impact disproportionately on young people.


Mr Mason Nkabinde


Looking ahead The CYP presented a platform for us to make a pact that we are no longer simply going to be the future, but we will take charge today to protect and determine our destiny


on how best as a ruling party we could change the status of youth in our societies. It was at this point where many different schools of thought emerged. The debates formed the foundation on which our destiny would be built and the future cemented. The 5th CYP was designed in a


format that gave us an opportunity to be in a functioning Legislature for four days. We had a government party (CDA), an opposition party (the Determination for the Future Party) and independents. This exercise exposed us, as


young leaders, to the reality of what the role of Parliament is in ensuring accountability of the executive and oversight by Parliament of the decision-making process in government. With the presentations from the different speakers that generously imparted their knowledge and answered our questions without reservations, it was by far the most informative programme I have ever attended – and I’m sure here that I speak for all MYPs. Having being introduced to the Westminster Parliament, I take home the experiences and wisdom of the Honourable Members who took time to brief us. What is undisputed is the fact that, as young people, we have so much to contribute to the direction of development. National leaders must take heed from the CYP programme that there is a leadership role that young people can and must play. We can no longer wait for the future to take up this position, as so


36 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One


as nations. The message is crystal clear for all that we must be involved in decision-making and implementation, and we do all of this because we don’t wish for the youth to continue to suffer. Our debates during the week


focused on youth unemployment, which evidently is a large issue for all Commonwealth countries. Deliberations indicated that as the youth, we do not ask for free rides, hand-outs and pity; but we need more


“I hope the CYP is merely the first in a series of platforms for young people to learn and make our input in how best Commonwealth countries can develop and how the life of their people can be changed for the better.”


opportunities through education, entrepreneurial space and a voice audible enough for our leaders to heed.


We further appreciate the role we


can play in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, both at the conceptual and practical level. We


think we are strategically placed to contribute as direct beneficiaries of these programmes. I wish to take this opportunity to congratulate all the participants on a smooth-running CYP. This in itself is an indication


that the 5th CYP was a meeting of visionary and disciplined future leaders with an awareness of their role as representatives of the young people of their countries charged with finding solutions to contemporary challenges confronting them. I hope the CYP is merely the first


in a series of platforms for young people to learn and make our input in how best Commonwealth countries can develop and how the life of their people can be changed for the better. The disheartening picture of disengaged youth in Commonwealth countries must be eliminated; a culture of activism, creativity and participation must be encouraged by all Parliaments in the Commonwealth by developing programmes that speak to youth participation in the governance of their countries. The message that governments don’t exist for themselves but for the people must be disseminated, heard and understood. I hope the next CYP has more


time to reflect extensively on a number of issues which were not covered in the 5th Youth Parliament, including the effects of HIV/AIDS, sustainable development and strengthening democracies. I think the Commonwealth has a


bright future, especially if it continues to look to its youth. This is an open invitation to all governments to utilize the resource we present; together we can achieve more. If I may paraphrase the words of


the Deputy Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Mrs Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba: “It is through experience that


we learn that democracy is what we do, not what we have”. Let’s do democracy and encourage (and hear) young people to be actively involved in the affairs of their countries’ development. See you at the 6th CYP!


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