Two former African statesmen fielded questions from Grahamstown learners on issues ranging from the personal to the political.
Two former African statesmen fielded questions from Grahamstown learners on issues ranging from the personal to the political.
The former presidents of Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda and erstwhile Mozambiquan president Joaquim Chissano gave learners from Victoria Girls’, Nathaniel Nyaluza and Mary Waters high schools, among others, free reign to bring up whatever subjects were on their minds.
This was part of an initiative by the Pan African Youth Dialogue, an organisation whose vision is to encourage young Africans to engage with complex issues.
The series started with an address by Kaunda on Tuesday and culminated in a panel discussion involving Chissano and Planning Commission Minister Trevor Manuel.
Some learners wanted to know about the presidents’ backgrounds, others about their personal struggles while one asked a question about Zimbabwe that Chissano admitted was “complicated and a long story”.
Dumisani Payi, Learner Representative Council (LRC) president at Nathaniel Nyaluza, wanted to know their thoughts about the way Zimbabwe is currently being governed.
Chissano attempted to give an answer by weaving in background, context and history. He ended by urging the youth and people in general to be patient and accommodate Zimbabweans as “the situation there is improving”.
He believes Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe “are now starting to agree on certain things.
That is a positive thing” . After about an hour, Payi volunteered to close the proceedings. He thanked the former presidents for “making time to share their wisdom with young people”.
He added that an important message that he got from the discussions was that young people should aim higher, get educated and do what ever they can for the country to develop.
Simamkele Gayika, deputy head boy at Mary Waters, says the most important lesson he learned at the talk was for young people to understand the continent’s history in a broader context.
He said they need to understand that Africa has worked together before to fight colonialism and apartheid and can still work together in resolving current social problems.
The LRC council members felt that some of the challenges that are facing the youth today include defining who they are, peer pressure, lack of focus and direction as well as alcohol and drug abuse.
A video of what some of the learners thought of the discussions is available on Grocott’s Online.
