Youths under Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) have asked for deliberate policies that would enable them to get higher positions in governments.
The youth claimed that despite that countries introduced ministries that work with them, the majority of people working in such ministries are above 35 years of age.
The call was made after the closure of a three-day workshop for capacity building of youth councils, youth-based and youth-focused organisations drawn from countries in Southern Africa.
Mzuzu City Youth Caucus Chairperson Gomezgani Nkhoma said Malawi’s Ministry of Youth has good programmes that aim at youth empowerment but expressed worry that the majority of the implementers are old people who have no interest in the youth.
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“We would, therefore, want the government to come up with policies that promote the creation of space for youths in government machinery,” Nyasulu said.
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Youth District Chairperson from Uganda, Robert Uche, agreed with Nkhoma but added that they have a youth quota in Parliament in which five positions for lawmakers are reserved for the youth, one of which is occupied by a young female parliamentarian.
“We have five representatives of youths in Parliament, one from each of the four regions, and a female representative. This is a policy that promotes youths’ voices in decision making,” Uche said.
However, Principal Youth Officer in the Ministry of Youth and Sports Chikondi Chasukwa said Malawi is doing well in accommodating the youth, adding that the majority of people working at the ministry are below 35 years.
“The problem of Malawian youths is that they sit back and wait for opportunities, which are always out there. For example, we have the National Youth Council and Youth Advisory Committee in the National Youth Planning Commission where positions are advertised. They must take a step,” Chasukwa said.
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The workshop, which had been organised by Save the Children in partnership with Youth and Society, was, among other things, aimed at strengthening youth capacity on building strong and sustainable partnerships focused on accountability and access to justice.
It drew participants from eSwatini, Kenya, Zambia, Egypt, Uganda, Zimbabwe and Mauritius.
