The question of how to rescue the African youth has always been asked countless times. It has been asked by everyone everywhere. Even those outside the continent ask why the future looks bleak for the youth of a resource-opulent continent. The anger, frustration, hopelessness and pain is written all over the body of the youth across Africa. The youth problem is widespread in all the 55 countries on the continent. Even the economic giant South Africa is not spared. We have recently seen fatal attacks being vented on African brothers in South Africa whose youth loses hope in a government that flouts its promise of a prosperous future.
Well, South Africa’s youngest Member of Parliament last month delivered a memorable maiden parliamentary speech. Hon. Hlomela Bucwa, who represents the main opposition Democratic Alliance, explains how the African National Congress government fails to improve the lives of young South Africans with regard to employment, education and training.
Hon. Hlomela is concerned about her country’s youths whose dreams have been shattered. She describes them as “the lost generation” who lacks basic access to education and employment in a country laden with resources.
“The lost generation is a generation of born frees who are victim to decades of compounding government greed and corruption. This is a lost generation whose government has turned its back on the building blocks, the futures, of my fellow young South Africans,” she points out in a six-minute address that has been heavily trending on the social media.
Like any conscious African, Hon. Hlomela too wonders why “we tread on the dreams of a lost generation” because our governments have not done enough to rescue the youths.
“We believe youth should be provided with quality education with support to ensure their success in institutions of learning. Let us tread softly because we tread on the dreams of a lost generation.
“We find ourselves with a government that is scared of its own young people and excludes them from acquiring an education and jobs,” she added.
We could not agree more with the 24-year-old lawmaker who coughs out what lies in the chest of Africa’s young people. They feel neglected and abandoned. It’s about time Africa engages its young people who are leaving the continent in search of their dreams they cannot find at home. We hope President Adama Barrow’s parliamentary nomination will include youths. Let’s build our future by investing in the young people.
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