29-year-old Lehlohonolo Mosoang, a former taxi driver, has become the youngest Member of Parliament in Lesotho after a landslide victory in the just concluded general elections.
More than 60% of Africa’s population is under the age of 25. The continent’s youth population is almost a billion people (540.8 million 0-14-year-olds and 454.5 million 15-34-year-olds), amounting to 22.7% of the world’s total youth population, the second largest after Asia’s (58.0%). By 2030, young Africans are expected to constitute 42% of global youth. Yet less than 1% of Africa’s parliamentarians are under 30.
Although the challenges are enormous for young people in politics in Africa, a few numbers of them are making strides to change the narrative, of “too young to lead”. In The Gambia, last year 26-year-old Abdoulie Njai won the Member of Parliament election becoming the country’s youngest Lawmaker. His winning sent a message to young people across the continent.
Lehlohonolo Mosoang, who was a former taxi driver in Lesotho has been sworn in as a Member of the Lesotho Parliament representing Sempe Constituency. The 29-year-old is now the youngest Lawmaker in Lesotho’s history. His victory made the headlines on Twitter and many young Africans are hoping he would succeed and be a beacon of hope for not just Lesotho but the entire continent.
Lehlohonolo Mosoang represented the National Independent Party (NIP) and got 1,565 votes.
Another Twitter user said
