The United Nations (UN) in Malawi has warned that economic challenges facing the country are potential triggers of instability and urged authorities to ensure deliberate investment in national peace.
UN Resident Coordinator Rebecca Adda-Dontoh, speaking in Mzuzu yesterday during commemoration of the International Day of Peace, said Malawians should not take for granted the peace in the country.
She said indicators such as political tensions, food insecurity, a difficult macro-economic situation and high unemployment have the potential to trigger violence.
be intentional. | Ralph Mvona
Adda-Dontoh urged government to leverage the youth population, which is in majority, to promote peace, saying the youth are very creative but are sitting on a fence and could be easily manipulated.
She said: “All these indicators hold potential to undermine the development gains, peace and stability of Malawi. So, the country has to be very intentional about investing and sustaining peace.
“That also includes addressing the root causes such as inequality, injustice, fear and all other tensions we see. I am happy that the theme this year focuses on the youth because they can go either way.”
Adda-Dontoh stressed on investment in human capital development, strong and credible institutions, adding that violence and mob justice are sometimes a result of loss of trust in public institutions.
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Principal Secretary Moses Chimphepo acknowledged pockets of violence perpetrated by some youths, but noted elements of change, citing the September 16 2025 General Election which he described as peaceful.
He also said the Reformed K5 billion Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is another tool government is using for peace promotion through sharing of development resources among various groups of people, including loans for women and the youth.
“We want to guard this peace jealously to spur development. We want to inculcate the culture of peace among the youth because they can also be used to create instability,” said Chimphepo.
National Youth Council of Malawi programme officer for youth and civic engagement Solomon Mlinda acknowledged that it is a difficult situation to preserve peace amid socio-economic challenges but said they have been deliberately empowering the youth economically.
During the celebrations, political parties, religious and traditional leaders, the media and security agencies were among those that made declarations to promote peaceful coexistence in the country.
The UN Day of Peace, established in 1981, falls on September 21 to strengthen peace, non-violence and a 24-hour global ceasefire. This year it was held under the theme ‘Empowering youth as agents of change, unity and socio economic development’.
