Staff Writer

MAHE, SEYCHELLES - The 41^st Plenary Assembly Session of the SADC Parliamentary Forum gets underway on Monday 10^th July 2017, here with a Symposium focusing on the Youths as SADC Member states angle for the demographic dividend that the region's youthful population presents.

The Plenary is SADC PF's highest decision-making body that brings together Speakers of 14^th National SADC Member States or their representatives and up to five Members or Parliament from each Member State, observers and resource persons. It meets twice a year. In all, 12 National Parliaments are attending this Plenary. Lesotho and Tanzania are not attending, citing pressing national engagements according to Sheuneni Kurasha, SADC PF's Parliamentary Business Focal Person.

SADC PF Secretary General Dr Esau Chiviya on Saturday told a high level preparatory meeting ahead of the Plenary that the 41^st Plenary Assembly Session is being held under the Theme: "Harnessing Demographic Dividend in SADC through investment in Youth."