The Speaker of the National Youth Parliament Consultative Assembly, Prosper Mampaaso Zuma has dismissed perceptions that activities involving the country’s youth are misplaced since they do not contribute in any way towards national development. Speaking on Multi TV’s political talk show Majority Caucus, Prosper Mampaaso Zuma argued that it is rather through the activism of the country’s youth that the National Youth Policy for instance came into effect. “Throughout various engagements, the youth contribute productively to the development of this country, so the allegation that it is just a group of people probably gathered by some political elites to, as it were do their bidding, is not correct. We have lived up to expectation” he said of the impact of the country’s youth on national development. Explaining the essence of the National Youth Parliament Consultative Assembly to the youth and the nation as a whole, Mr. Zuma said “what basically we are going to do as a Parliament is to influence policy decision and participate in the governance process of this country.” The National Youth Parliament Consultative Assembly which was launched on Tuesday November 1 as part of activities to mark the African Youth Day celebrations will for the mean time “go out there to encourage the formation of youth groups and the registration of new and old youth groups; that is the work of the consultative assembly” Mr. Zuma noted.