Chimunthu doubts realisation of 30 % youth representation

Speaker of the just dissolved National Assembly Henry Chimunthu-Banda has doubted the realisation of 30 percent youth representation in decision and policy making positions in the absence of electoral system changes.

Chimunthu-Banda made the remarks in Lilongwe yesterday at the launch of the Malawi Youth Charter, which among others, requested 30 percent youth representation in Cabinet, Parliament, parastatal boards and other policy making structures

“This is a humble request. However, it will still become a challenge to achieve. Even on women, we started with 30 percent which later went to 50 percent and yet we are still struggling to achieve it,” said Chimunthu-Banda.

He added: “Those countries that have managed to realise this have electoral systems that carry stamina. Some of these countries do not vote for individuals, but rather political parties which present names of their candidates before the elections.”

He cited countries such as Tanzania where they already reserve seats for youths, women and people with disabilities way before elections and Uganda where they have district seats for minority groups.

The Youth Charter also requests a Parliamentary Committee on Youth Affairs to ensure adequate representation of youth issues in the National Assembly.

The charter, with coordination from Youth Consultative Forum (YCF) and other youth organisations, has been developed following wide consultations among young people from across the country.

YCF coordinator, Edward Chileka-Banda, said the charter is a five-year engagement document that summarises all crucial issues that youths want to be addressed.

“We want a Malawi that is progressive and where youth are agents of change and have energy to contribute to national issues. We are not happy that as a country we still struggle to raise our living standards,” said Chileka-Banda. n