Young Africa vs. Authoritarianism: The Fight for Africa's Future?
Tuesday, 12 July 2022
12pm Washington D.C.
5pm London / Kinshasa
6pm Paris / Cape Town / Cairo
7pm Nairobi
Read the latest on the topic from our team member Nic Cheeseman!
Africa has no shortage of crusading youth activists who are fighting for freedom and justice. Young people recently united to demand change in Nigeria under the #EndSARS banner and also in Zambia when young voters threw their collective weight behind opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema, helping him to win the presidency; in eSwatini, too – home to Africa’s last absolute monarchy – students have campaigned for decades against a dictator king.
Despite this, however, the continent seems to be moving away from democracy. This begs the question: Why is Africa getting more authoritarian even as it’s getting younger?
One answer might be that Africa’s youth are not as democratic as we might assume. According to the last round of Afrobarometer surveys, fewer young people (18-25) said they preferred democracy to any other form of government compared to other age groups.
Another reason is that young people face an uphill battle. Often lacking resources and social status, young people are less likely to be on the electoral register and thus turn out to vote. Across the continent, powerful political actors have also demonstrated the routine capacity to co-opt and demobilize potential youth challenges, including the use of violence.
So, what can young people do to inspire their age-mates to reject authoritarian rule? This show will bring together inspiring youth leaders to ask how movements that challenge inept and abusive governments can both thrive and be protected from potential subversion. We’ll also endeavor to find out how different strands of youth politics can be woven together to empower young citizens in a way that also strengthens democracy in Africa.
Join us!
Meet our speakers
Joanah Mamombe
Hon. Joanah Mamombe is a trained molecular biologist and the youngest member of parliament in Zimbabwe. She is a youth national executive member of the Citizens Coalition for Change, the country’s main opposition party. She was recipient of the One Young World Politician of the Year in 2020. Hon. Mamombe has also faced routine persecution for being involved in opposition politics. She was abducted by suspected state agents in 2019 and has appeared in court over 100 times to answer a raft of arbitrary charges. Nevertheless, she continues to speak out and works to address injustice in her country.
Maxwell Dlamini
Maxwell Dlamini is Secretary General of the Swaziland Youth Congress and a former student leader at the University of Swaziland. He is among the most courageous advocates for multi-party democracy in eSwatini, Africa's last absolute monarchy. Maxwell has been repeatedly arrested, jailed and tortured by royal authorities due to his activism, which hasn't stopped him from being among the most vocal and respected civic leaders in southern Africa.
Joseph Kalimbwe
Joseph Kalimbwe is one of the most well-known youth activists in southern Africa today, often using his popular social media pages to advocate for reform and accountability. He has helped to organize popular youth movements from his native Zambia to Namibia. Recently, he played a central role in mobilizing the youth vote ahead of Zambia's consequential 2021 elections that resulted in the defeat of authoritarian president Edgar Lungu.
Discussion
Nic Cheeseman
Nic Cheeseman is the Professor of Democracy at the University of Birmingham and the author of Democracy in Africa and How to Rig an Election. He is founder and editor of Democracy in Africa and a contributing editor to The Continent, and an election junkie.
Cynthia Mbamalu
Cynthia Mbamalu is a highly accomplished human rights and gender advocate. She is the co-founder of several innovative initiatives, including Yiaga Africa, a group that advocates for democratic elections, as well as Ready to Run, a grassroots movement that inspires and supports young people to run for public office. She is most known for her efforts around the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign, which ultimately became an act of the Nigerian parliament reducing the age limit to run for elective office.
Moderation
Mantate Mlotshwa
Mantate Mlotshwa is a passionate advocate for the meaningful contribution of women and youth to democracy and governance processes. The Founder of the creative brand U Motle, she has earned a reputation for speaking her mind and promoting positive messages of liberation and emancipation in Zimbabwe and beyond.
Jeffrey Smith
Jeffrey Smith is an award-winning human rights campaigner, social media influencer, and a prolific writer. He is co-creator of The Resistance Bureau and also founding director of Vanguard Africa, a global nonprofit organization that partners with visionary African leaders to build campaigns for democracy and ethical leadership.