Introduction

Youth leaders representing a number of African countries have resolved to reinforce the centre right agenda among their peers and parties. This resolution was reached during the DUA Youth Leaders School on the Principles for a Free Society held at Kunduchi Beach Hotel and Resort in Dar es Salaam-Tanzania from Friday 17 August to Monday 20 August, 2007.

The DUA Youth Leaders School formerly known as The Winter School on the Principles for a Free Society has been a youth conference of the Democratic Union of Africa (DUA). The conference built on the successful event held last year in South Africa and continued to develop the network of leading young conservative politicians in Africa. This conference was organized by DUA in collaboration with Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation of Sweden and Conservative Party WFD Programme of United Kingdom who provided resources and technical support. It has been an annual event that focuses in building the capacity of young people on political issues for sustainable political strength of their parties. Also the participants had a chance to have Dance-Night and a Sightseeing visit around Dar es Salaam City.

Official opening:

When opening the conference Dr. Wilbroad Slaa (MP), Secretary General (CHADEMA) and Deputy Leader of Opposition (Tanzania) challenged young leaders to be the hearts of pushing for ideological development of their individual parties. Hon. Slaa who is also the MP for the SADC Parliamentary Forum motivated youth to be agents for change including addressing the situation in Zimbabwe, Sudan (Darfur), Tanzania (particularly Zanzibar) and other conflicts across Africa.

Topics covered:

Topics which were covered by the conference include: The government and an individual; Private property; Equality and the Rule of Law; Justice, peace and Human Rights; Free Trade, Free enterprise; Civil Society and Democracy. The school used the Study Guide on the Principles for a free society by Dr. Nigel Ashford. The session also included debates on selected contentious issues.

DUA Youth Meeting:

During the last the day of the conference the DUA Youth Meeting was held to discuss future plans in which an Interim Committee was elected to reinforce the centre-right agenda among youth across Africa. Countries elected to hold positions in committee include: Liberia (Chairperson); Mozambique (Vice Chairperson); Tanzania (Secretary General); Uganda (Deputy Secretary General); Lesotho (Coordinator-South African Region); Ivory Coast (Coordinator-Western Region) and Seychelles (Coordinator-African Islands). The Interim committee was tasked to coordinate the establishment of mechanisms or recommend modalities that will promote the centre-right agenda among their peers and in general reinforce the involvement of Africa youth in DUA and IYDU. Each country delegation pledged to submit to the Interim committee within a week its ‘Youth Report on Political Situation’. The committee is then expected to compile a “Youth Report” on both the political situation in Africa and youth involvement in DUA. The committee will eventually submit its recommendations to the DUA Party Leaders Meeting which is scheduled to be held towards the end of the year. The DUA Youth Meeting was convened and Chaired by Mr John Mnyika- Director of Youth (CHADEMA) and the Vice Chairperson (IYDU) responsible for Africa.

Farewell dinner

Meanwhile, the DUA Youth Leaders were urged to be symbol of hope in Africa politics. The call was made by Mr. Freeman Mbowe, Party Leader (CHADEMA) and DUA Secretary in his short welcoming remarks in the dinner he hosted the participants in his residence. “When I see you, I see I hope of the growth of your parties, indeed your countries as the young democracies of across Africa, moving towards real freedom”, he maintained.