Will Advisory Council widen advocacy opportunities for youth?
The youth in Malawi have welcomed with optimism news that President Bingu wa Mutharika on February 17, 2010 appointed National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) Board Chairperson, Thembi Thadzi, to the newly instituted National Advisory Council for Strategic Planning, in the hopes that the development will provide an opportunity to have the youth’s advocacy programmes and activities that are related to governance issues exposed and recognised by the State.
According to a statement from Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Bright Msaka, the Council is a special team of prominent civil rights activist and notable politicians that will be advising Mutharika and his cabinet on national policies. It will be acting as a high ranking think tank on strategic development and management planning for national policy directions.
However, noting that there has never existed an office of a Presidential Advisor on Youth Affairs at the State House, but many youth in the country are now optimistic that for the first time Government and the State will seriously recognise them as affective agents of change or development following the inclusion of a youth representative on the Council.
In spite of a number of youth programmes and activities related to governance, anti-corruption, and accountability in the past, it still proved difficult for the state to acknowledge the work that the youth were involved in.
Corruption is a social vice that requires the intervention of all stakeholders in Malawi – including the media and the youth – as it affects every sector of the society in a country with a total population of 14 million people. According to an International Anti-Corruption Newsletter report of April 2001, written by Gilton Chiwawula, who was then Executive Director of the Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), corruption often affects 10 million people, 85% of whom live in the rural areas. The report further says any activity by any public official that affects the rural population impacts negatively on their personal and domestic economy.
On the other hand, the National Youth Policy recognises that more than half of the country’s population is below the age of 25, which means that Malawi is a youthful nation. Yet these youth are energetic, adventurous, industrious, and willing to learn. What they need is to be given a chance, space and motivation to contribute towards developing the nation and themselves, including combating corruption.
It is expected that youngsters will now be able to take advantage of youth representation on the Council to advocate for issues related to governance, corruption and accountability in the following ways and strategies: Petitions to the State channelled through the Council; lobbying with the Council; scheduled meetings with the Council; among other ways and strategies.
According to a statement from Chief Secretary to the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), Bright Msaka, the Council is a special team of prominent civil rights activist and notable politicians that will be advising Mutharika and his cabinet on national policies. It will be acting as a high ranking think tank on strategic development and management planning for national policy directions.
However, noting that there has never existed an office of a Presidential Advisor on Youth Affairs at the State House, but many youth in the country are now optimistic that for the first time Government and the State will seriously recognise them as affective agents of change or development following the inclusion of a youth representative on the Council.
In spite of a number of youth programmes and activities related to governance, anti-corruption, and accountability in the past, it still proved difficult for the state to acknowledge the work that the youth were involved in.
Corruption is a social vice that requires the intervention of all stakeholders in Malawi – including the media and the youth – as it affects every sector of the society in a country with a total population of 14 million people. According to an International Anti-Corruption Newsletter report of April 2001, written by Gilton Chiwawula, who was then Executive Director of the Malawi’s Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), corruption often affects 10 million people, 85% of whom live in the rural areas. The report further says any activity by any public official that affects the rural population impacts negatively on their personal and domestic economy.
On the other hand, the National Youth Policy recognises that more than half of the country’s population is below the age of 25, which means that Malawi is a youthful nation. Yet these youth are energetic, adventurous, industrious, and willing to learn. What they need is to be given a chance, space and motivation to contribute towards developing the nation and themselves, including combating corruption.
It is expected that youngsters will now be able to take advantage of youth representation on the Council to advocate for issues related to governance, corruption and accountability in the following ways and strategies: Petitions to the State channelled through the Council; lobbying with the Council; scheduled meetings with the Council; among other ways and strategies.
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