Malawi’s Minister of Youth and Sports Enoch Chihana has been accused of lying that he told a Mzuzu-based NGO to withdraw and apologise for the petition they sent to the ministry last week Wednesday.
The petition issued by Youth and Society The Nation has seen urges the Ministry of Youth and Sports to adopt the National Youth Policy by the end of this month.
Reads the petition dated May 28 2013: “We write your high office to express our grim dismay at your ministry’s delay in facilitating the adoption of the new Youth Policy, which has been under review since 2007 and there are no signs that your ministry is treating this issue with needed urgency…
“We are shocked that despite assurance in many forums to have the Youth Policy adopted by Cabinet, the ministry continues to drag the process.
“In particular, we make reference to the audience Youth leaders, led by Youth Consultative Forum (YCF), had with Her Excellency, the President Dr. Joyce Banda on November 28 2012 at Kamuzu Palace, to discuss how the youth could contribute to Malawi’s economic recovery during which you committed that the National Youth Policy would be reviewed by Cabinet by January 2013.”
The petition, signed by Youth and Society executive director Charles Kajoloweka and programmes officer Andrew Longwe, therefore, calls on the minister to adopt the petition by June or else face mass protests by the youth and interested stakeholders.
“Honourable Minister, it is with this painful backdrop that we demand the adoption of the National Youth Policy by June 28, 2013…,” it reads in part.
In an interview last Thursday, Chihana acknowledged receipt of the petition, but said the non-governmental organisation (NGO) withdrew it and apologised for sending it.
“I talked with [Kajoloweka] on the phone yesterday after clarifying one or two things. He withdrew the petition and apologised,” said Chihana.
But Kajoloweka denied the allegation, saying: “He said the letter was strong and [that we] rushed in issuing it.
“To say that I apologised is a lie. We do not see any reason for withdrawing and apologising for expressing our views on issues of national importance. He is the one who owes the nation an apology for delaying in adopting the policy,” said Kajoloweka.
Asked to give an update on the implementation of the National Youth Policy, Chihana said the policy is going through consultations with the youth so that it should have input of issues affecting them.
“Currently, we are consulting the youth. Next week, the principal secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports will be compiling it for me to take it to Cabinet for approval. It is only then that Parliament can debate it,” he said.
If adopted, the policy will act as a framework for the facilitation of meaningful youth development programmes and services with full participation of young people at all levels.
