PREAMBLE
We the Young People of Southern Africa, gathering in our diversity at the 5th SADC Youth Forum hosted from 25 to 27 July 2023, Gaborone, Botswana, representing all the 16 SADC Member States: Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eswatini, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Guided by the aspirations of Pan-Africanism and the desire to foster our unity in diversity and inspired by our sovereignty, territorial integrity, the gains of the liberation struggle, aspirations of democratic societies, respect of fundamental rights, cultural integrity, peaceful co-existence, and self-determination.
Considering the outcomes of the previous SADC Youth Forums, the programs, projects, and policies shaped by these outcomes and the need to continue to be guided by young people’s recommendations and resolutions in our interventions.
Driven by the zeal to contribute towards the empowerment of youth in our region and contributing to effective development and sustainable participation of youth at community, national, national, and international levels.
Cognizant that youth constitute a larger percentage of the population nationally, regionally, and that they are faced with many challenges that require immediate solutions.
Mindful that young people in Southern Africa face structural, systematic, and financial challenges that prohibit their participation in inter-Africa Trade and effective development.
Acknowledging the instruments that guide the empowerment of the youth of the SADC region, including but not limited to the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030, SADC Vision 2050, the Africa Youth Charter, UN Agenda 2030, the Youth Development Model (SAYoF) and the Africa Union Agenda 2063.
Celebrating the first-ever Regional Conference of Youth (RCOY) hosted by Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF) and its partners during the 5th SADC Youth Forum, to craft a youth position for COP28 and to inform the youth-led Youth Climate Actions in the region.
Grateful as we launch the Southern Africa Youth Flag with its deep meaning rooted within the values of Pan-Africanism, sustainable youth development and cultural integrity; the flag symbolises unity and signifies that youth are the leaders of today, working side by side with elders. The flag is a call for effective youth inclusion in both policy and practice, emphasising the principle of equality. This flag reminds youth of their responsibility to contribute to the develop their region and countries, building an integrated region based on democratic governance, respect for human dignity in line with the values of Ubuntu and preserve ownership and sustainable utilisation of our natural resources.
Inspired by the gracious support of the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), notably, Her Excellency Boemo Ndu Sekgoma, Secretary General and Patron for the SADC Youth Parliament, who joined the young people in Gaborone, Botswana, throughout the entire duration of the Forum.
Acknowledging the invaluable partnership and collaboration of the following organisation which played an integral part in making the 5th SADC Youth Forum a phenomenal success: SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF), SADC-CNGO, African Union, Southern Africa Trust (SAT), International Organisation for Migration (UN-Migration), European Union Delegation to Botswana and SADC, SAVE the Children International, Wits Business School, CAPSI, Afrocentric Locale, International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD), Youth For Tax Justice Network, WWF, International Idea, and CJ-JT Donor Collaborative.
Further acknowledging the commitment by the European Union, which was represented by the Deputy Head of Delegation to Botswana and SADC, Ms. Silvia Bopp-Hamrouni, not only as a partner of the 5th SADC Youth Forum but also for its efforts and actions to Regional Integration and Youth Participation in AfCFTA through its support for SADC regional economic integration programs.
Desirous to collaborate with the UN International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and leverage the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration (GCM) to unlock the potential of youth in Southern Africa and ensure the well-being and empowerment of young migrants through a coordinated and collaborative efforts, while addressing migration management associated challenges.
Saluting the work of the Africa Union Youth Ambassador for Peace for Southern Africa; Ambassador Cynthia Chigwenya, which brought the agenda on youth, peace, and security at the table, with the inclusion of youth from marginalised communities and her participation at the 5th SADC Youth Forum to share with the young people from the region the progress, and to listen to their recommendations.
Taking Note of the 5th SADC Youth Forum theme for 2023, “Accelerating Regional Integration and Youth Participation in AfCFTA,” which was influenced by the aspirations of the SADC RISDP 2020-2030, as well as the African Union theme for 2023 which is “Acceleration of AfCFTA Implementation.”
Endorsing the notion that effective participation of young people in AfCFTA implementation is crucial for its success and the recognition that the youth play an important role in regional integration and development, backed by good governance practices.
Reaffirming our commitment to contributing to social-economic development of young people in Southern Africa, fostering reginal integration, and harness opportunities presented by the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for the benefit of the youth.
Determined to foster an enabling environment for youth empowerment and supporting an active role for SADC youth in monitoring the implementation of AfCFTA, including through the implementation of key frameworks for youth development and empowerment, including the SADC Declaration on Youth Development and Empowerment (2015), the SADC Youth Empowerment Policy Framework (2021-2030) and the African Youth Charter (2006).
Inspired by the Ignite Talk delivered during the 5th SADC Youth Forum by Mr. Sheuneni Kurasha SADC-PF Programme Manager Democracy, Governance and Human Rights and Chief Mentor for the SADC Youth Parliament, titled “Propelling the Youth of Southern Africa to Discover their Generational Mission and Move with Decisiveness to Fulfil It” and agreeing with the notion that, “It is the duty of each generation to identify its purpose or mission within the context of its time.”
Welcoming the steps taken by the SADC Secretariat on the call for the SADC Youth Protocol and acknowledging the 3rd SADC Youth Forum which Her Excellency Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax by then the Executive Secretary of SADC Secretariat, as our Guest of Honour received the 3rd SADC Youth Forum, Malawi Declaration and commit to take action steps to support outcomes of the 3rd SADC Youth Forum, among them the Protocol on Youth.
Modelling our work on the Youth Development Model (YDM), which views young people as Stakeholders, Stockholders, Leaders for Transformation, and Change Agents (Four Lens Approach). The YDM encompasses the 8Ps: Participation, Primacy (of Youth), Partnerships, Priorities, Possibilities, Policy, Peace, and Pan-Africanism. We reiterate that young people play a pivotal role in driving inclusive and sustainable development, leading us towards a prosperous Africa.
The 5TH SADC YOUTH FORUM GABORONE DECLARATION, Botswana (SAYoF)
