President Lazarus Chakwera has clarified that the K500 000 allocation to newborns as promised in his Malawi Congress Party (MCP) September 16 General Election manifesto will only be accessible when the child turns 18.
The President officially launched his 2025 campaign on Saturday, unveiling an ambitious new manifesto anchored on five strategic pillars aimed at completing the development path he began in 2020.
The pledges include the Tsogolo Account which promises K500 000 savings for all children born in Malawi.
Speaking at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe on Monday during his endorsement of the National Youth Manifesto, an event organised by the Youth Decide Campaign, Chakwera said the initiative is aimed at ending poverty, not just reducing it.
He said: “I had one former president write to me, he says now you are talking really about poverty eradication not just poverty reduction.
“This will be the first generation of millionaires across the country.”
During the meeting, the Youth Decide Campaign condemned Chakwera’s record on youth inclusion, citing the absence of young people in Cabinet-level positions.
Youth Decide Campaign coordinator Mwandida Theu said: “Throughout your five-year term, no young person has served in cabinet despite the National Youth Policy defining youth as those aged 10–35.”
