Mozambique Elections: Renamo candidate “ready for everything” - AIM
Illustrative photo. [File photo: Lusa]
A study by the Institute for Multi-party Democracy (IMD), a Mozambican non-governmental organisation (NGO), pointed to a decline in the political representation of young people in the country, noting that this context harms the participation of this population group in elected bodies.
The analysis, cited in a statement released on Monday by the IMD, points to parliament and the provincial assemblies as an example of the deficit of youth representation in Mozambican political institutions.
“The study shows that the representation of young people in politics has been falling significantly,” he emphasised.
In parliament, for example, the highest number of young people in parliament was 68, recorded in the fourth legislature in 1995. Still, the current legislature, which is the ninth, has the lowest number, only 17 young people, corresponding to 6.8%.
“And of these 17 young people, seven will leave the youth age group, leaving only 10, and by the end of the term of office, there will be six,” said Dércio Alfazema, Director of IMD Programs, quoted in the document.
On the other hand, the democratic space has not been favourable for young people to run for elected bodies.
The provincial assemblies also have a deficit of youth representativeness, with a “minor” presence of this population segment.
“In the provincial assemblies, the lack of representativeness of young people is also worrying. In the current mandate, out of around 800 members of the provincial assemblies, only 62 young people were elected, the equivalent of 8% of the total,” the text reads.
The document said that this regressive trend in youth inclusion and representation is worrying the youth.
“Young members of the political parties’ youth leagues have shown some frustration and lack of interest in politics due to this picture of exclusion, as their expectations have not been properly met,” the study emphasises.
Young people are losing motivation concerning politics, notes the IMD.
The IMD welcomes the greater presence of women in Mozambican political institutions, with a 40% rate of female representation in political bodies.
However, it warns that the high rate of representation of women may be happening to the detriment of young people.
“The debate on the inclusion of young people in politics may be postponed to prioritise the gender agenda,” it noted.
The study states that political parties have recognised the role of young people in politics and are committed to giving greater value to this group.
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