At an advocacy and leadership training workshop for youth leaders this week, young people said they need a place where they cannot only dialogue about the challenges they face but also help craft policies that can create durable solutions to such challenges.One of them, Emmanuel Mogale, said he wishes for the establishment of an apolitical youth parliament legitimised by the Botswana Constitution.He said even though young people have the power to be heard through their votes, he feels that voting does not guarantee that young people's interests will be heard in Parliament.
"I do have the power to vote, but it is not guaranteed that the person I vote for will represent my interests as a young person," he said.Another young person, Gogontlejang Phaladi, said the youth should be given authority and influence on issues that affect them.She said very often such workshops are convened and young people dialogue with people in power but nothing concrete comes out of the dialogue.
