Malawi, 21 million people in East African country, will hold elections on 16 September.
With more than half of the population of Malawi below 35 years, the question of youth involvement in politics is attracting attention. According to the records of the Commonwealth Observer Group and Malawi Electoral Commission, during the 2019 elections, 54% registered voters were between 18 and 35.
New seats, latest hope?
Recently, the re -confirmed practice of a constituency added 35 new seats in the last 193, causing a total of 228. Extension has created a fresh interest to join active politics among the youth, amidst increasing unemployment and global cost of living crisis.
But as a random interview shows, the young entry is fulfilled by mixed fate. While some have launched their careers, others say that the matter of youth empowerment is often empty rhetoric in parties, where the Olders leaders still affect the selection of the candidate.
At the age of 32, a former ward councilor Ivy Sande has a will, energy, education and passion that many voters say they want in their parliamentary.
But after going from the village to the village after months, support for his candidature for the office, she is facing a difficult truth: Malawi’s breakdown in politics is not just about new ideas. This means that navigating party structures still dominates the old guards associated well.
“I realized that someone was already supported. It is as if I stood before making a decision, so I jump,” he claimed.
Youth should ‘affect important decisions’
For the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legalist Fianne Magonjwa, for the youngest Parliamentian of Malawi, his Maden has been market by strong support from both his party and components in a five -year term. She is excited about maintaining her seat in the September elections.
So it is such a great companion not to compromise on the begging used by political parties for political work, but aims to positions where they affect major decisions.
“I have been lucky to support my party and the people I represent, and I am confident that I will return to Parliament in 2025. But parties should do more for the manufacturer for young people, not only as leg soldiers, but as decision -making,” Magonajwa said.
A political scientist at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (Mubas) Chimwaymway Tsitsi believes that the status quo will remain in unethical political parties that deliberately try that the Force Fair competition.
Tsitsi emphasizes that youth entering politics should be prepared with a solid strategy rather than expecting success on age or special idea.
He said that facing competition is an essential part of political mother and socialization.
While parties should make a fair playground, they should avoid handling candidates, they said that parties should institutionalize transparent processes for primary.
Ultimately, Tsitasi says, electoral success depends on the choice of voters, and it is the essence of democracy.
“Young people should not expect sympathy votes as they are young. Politics demands strategy, flexibility and readiness to compete,” said Tsitsi.
“Parties must ensure a fair process, but at the end of the day, success depends on people’s choice – this is democracy.”
Structural exclusion and cultural resistance
However, Human Rights NGO, Youth and Society Executive Director Charles Kajoloweka argues that Malawi’s political system excludes young people before reaching national politics.
Kajoloveka identifies young people with many obstacles, including the absence of young-intended policies within political parties, high financial costs of participating in elections, resistance of society for new and young political actors and leadership training for young and young aspirations and lack of investment in maintenance.
Therefore, he criticizes failure to implement you policies meaningfully and highlights a lacquer of donor support for political parties for the creation of youth leadership structures. Kajolovaka deliberately asks for investing in inter -state programs and youth capacity building, warning that without thesis, Malawi’s political future risks.
“Malawi’s politics will remain empty of innovation and real progress if we ignore the youth. Political parties lack clear policies for the inclusion of youth, are very high for youth aspirations, and there is no investment in building their leadership ability,” said Kajoloweka.
“Empowerment talk means structural improvement and intentionally nothing without maintenance.”
Political analyst Sainala Kalebe connects youth boycott to deep cultural false people in politics, cited Afrabarometer data, which still shows most of the Malavis to follow the knowledge of the elders.
He said that young people are often limited to symbolic roles such as noun leadership with political parties dancing to Beg’s unsushed rallies.
Will the youth break?
Kalebe argues 50% of youth representation in institutions including parties, government, judiciary and security forces to reflect the demographic reality of the country.
He insisted that beyond the rhetoric, one should come through real empowerment. However, therefore challenges the youth to educate the content, attach meaningfully, and see politics as a long -term commitment.
“Whatever we are doing now is a great symbol of the youth, but what we want is a noun, where the voice of the young people is really heard, not only sitting on the table,” says Kalebe.
With just three months in elections, many young aspirations are now at a crossroads. Internal party politics is forcing them to hard -havingly options, either break and contesting elections as an independent, bends out for a rapidly popular route in recent years or completely out.
For Ivy, there is no option to leave. He has blamed the People’s party of former President of the country, Joyce Banda.
“My people believe in me, and I can’t walk away from him. I still stand for them,” he insisted.
Edited by: Keith Walker
