The Speaker of the Southern Africa Youth Parliament, Hon. Nsama Patrick Mpundu, has been nominated and elected as a Member of Parliament in Zambia’s National Assembly, representing youth.
Hon. Mpundu’s election follows his leadership at the regional level, where he is serving as a key voice for youth advocacy and policy change across Southern Africa through the Southern Africa Youth Parliament. In commenting on his nomination, he emphasized his commitment to youth representation in national decision-making.
“I am glad and honoured to accept His Excellency President Hakainde Hichilema’s and my party, the United Party for National Development’s, nomination as an elected Member of Parliament in Zambia’s National Assembly representing the Youth.”
The Southern Africa Youth Parliament is the regional policy and parliamentary arm coordinated by the Southern Africa Youth Forum (SAYoF), working with mentorship support from the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF). The Parliament’s Patron is Her Excellency Boemo Sekgoma, the Secretary General of the SADC Parliamentary Forum.
Beyond providing a platform for youth to engage on policy matters at the regional level, the Youth Parliament has increasingly become a structured leadership development space. Through a mentorship programme led by Chief Mentor Advocate Sheuneni Kurasha, participating parliamentarians gain exposure to policy engagement, parliamentary processes, and governance skills that help prepare them for future public leadership.
Recent developments have shown the wider impact of the programme. One parliamentarian from Lesotho, Hon. Khereng Khereng, was recently appointed by the Government to serve in Germany as a diplomat, among other responsibilities, demonstrating how the Youth Parliament continues to open pathways for young leaders beyond regional advocacy.
Hon. Nsama Patrick Mpundu led the Southern Africa Youth Parliament together with the Co-Speaker from Malawi, Hon. Patience Munyenyembe. Under their leadership, the regional body continued to advocate for policy changes that respond to youth needs across member states.
The Southern Africa Youth Parliament is made up of 38 members, with two representatives from each of the 16 SADC countries, one male and one female, along with two Speakers of Parliament, two clerks, and two representatives of persons with disabilities. This composition is designed to ensure that youth representation is inclusive and reflects the diversity of experiences across the region.
With Hon. Mpundu’s election to Zambia’s National Assembly, youth representation is expected to gain stronger momentum in national legislative debates.
