The Youth Development Council Bill, 2024 seeks to create a formal institutional framework aimed at advancing meaningful youth development in Lesotho. It sets out how the Council will be established, defines its functions, and outlines its governance and operational processes. Once passed, the legislation will be legally binding and will complement other laws relating to youth empowerment.
The Council will consist of members whose names will be published in the Government Gazette by the Minister responsible for youth affairs. Representation will be designed to be broad and inclusive, with measures in place to ensure gender balance and diversity. It will include one youth from each district, nominated at an elective conference, with equal consideration for male and female candidates; two representatives, one male and one female, nominated by a joint meeting of all registered political party youth leagues; one individual with recognised expertise, knowledge, and commitment to youth development, nominated at the elective conference; the Director of Youth as an ex officio member representing the Ministry responsible for youth; two representatives, one male and one female, of youth with disabilities nominated at the elective conference; and one representative from faith-based youth organisations nominated by the inter-religious youth forum.
The elective conference will comprise of four delegates from each District Youth Council, one of whom must be a representative of persons with disabilities. The Chief Executive Officer will serve as Secretary to the Council, attending meetings but without voting rights. At the inaugural meeting, members will elect a Chairperson and a Deputy Chairperson from among themselves.
Elected or appointed members, other than ex officio members, will serve a three-year term and may be reappointed for a second term, provided they still qualify as youth and have demonstrated satisfactory performance. No individual may serve more than two consecutive terms.
The Council will hold regular meetings at least once every quarter, with the schedule determined by the Chairperson in consultation with the secretariat. Special meetings may be called by the Chairperson, in consultation with the executive committee, or at the request of three members, with at least seven days’ written notice. A quorum will be formed by two-thirds of the members present and voting. The Chairperson will preside over meetings, or in their absence, the Deputy Chairperson; if both are absent, members will elect a temporary presiding officer. Decisions will be made by a majority vote, with the Chairperson or presiding officer holding a casting vote in the event of a tie, unless unanimity is reached. Written resolutions signed by all members will carry the same effect as those passed in a meeting. The Council will have the authority to set its own procedural rules for itself and its committees, provided these do not conflict with the Act, and will ensure that minutes of all proceedings and resolutions are recorded.
The Council’s internal rules may address matters such as governance, administration, and management of its affairs; procedures for executing payments and managing negotiable instruments; detailed meeting protocols; and any other matters relevant to its operations.
Strict rules will apply to conflicts of interest. Any member with a direct or indirect interest in a matter before the Council must declare it at the meeting and refrain from participating in related discussions, deliberations, or votes, and will not count towards the quorum for that agenda item. If the majority of members present believe the individual’s expertise is essential, they may allow limited participation under specified restrictions, but without voting rights. All such disclosures will be recorded in the meeting minutes, and failure to declare an interest will result in disqualification from the Council.