University students in the audience at a World Economic Forum panel discussion were encouraged Wednesday in Cape Town to vote corrupt leaders out of office and never let them overstay their constitutional terms, IndependentOnline reports.

“If you want to change a system, you need to be bold. You have to have clarity on what you want… and you have to have a constituency,” said panelist Graca Machel, wife of the late President Nelson Mandela.

At 28, Machel became cabinet member in Mozambique. Now age 69, she is a political activist and elder statesman. Her message? Youth need to take responsibility and make changes by becoming organized.

Africa’s youth — among the largest and fastest-growing youth populations in the world — have tremendous power when it comes to voting due to their sheer numbers, panelists said. If leaders aren’t doing their jobs, young voters should vote them out of office instead of complaining.

Panelists included Machel; South African singer Yvonne Chaka Chaka; and Ben Barka, who became a Mali cabinet minister at 36.

The problem with young people is youth is wasted on them, Barka said.

“For me, young is about ideas, opportunities and ambition. The more you listen to old people, the more experience you get. The problem with this generation is that it doesn’t listen,” Barka said. He encouraged youth to work their way into decision-making positions so they can effect change.

Chaka Chaka said leaders who refuse to leave office must be forced out. “Some African leaders are even richer than their countries,” she said.

Students — mostly from the University of Cape Town and Stellenbosch University– questioned panelists about lack of accountability in African leaders, how to access leaders, and to how to get young people to lead instead of leave Africa.

Youth need to demand representation in government just as women have, Machel said. “You have to be inside institutions and change them from within.”

Several other seminars at the World Economic Forum will be dedicated to developing African youth, with a focus on getting jobs and entrepreneurship, according to IndependentOnline.

The three-day forum is scheduled for June 3-5.