Youths key to peace, security integration
Government has admitted that just like the rest of the countries in the region, Malawian youths are susceptible to economic threats that have the potential to destabilise peace and security.
The sentiments follow the country’s participation in the African Union (AU) High Level Ministerial Conference on Youth for the Southern Africa Region held from 25 to 29 July, 2022 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
In a statement delivered during the conference, Minister of Local Government Blessings Chinsinga, who represented the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the Conference, admitted that the current global economic crisis continues to rob the youth of incomes and economic opportunities.
He said: “The resultant effects are many and they include worsening inequality, poverty, unemployment, and political manipulation. Such a situation is breeding frustrations, anger, and resentment and this is a recipe for serious breakdown of peace and security.
“Recognising this, the Malawi Government, through the relevant ministries, departments and agencies, is taking every step to ensure there is promotion of dialogue on various issues that are potential causes of conflict.”
With regard to the specific aspect of youth engagement, inclusion and leadership, the minister said currently, through the Ministry of National Unity, government is in the process of developing a National Action Plan.
Chinsinga said the NAP process is largely informed by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2250 while also drawing inspiration from regional experiences and instruments.
“As a demonstration of the government of Malawi’s commitment to the youth, peace and security agenda, the Ministry of National Unity will, from the coming financial year, include the National Action Plan in its annual budgets,” he said.
Already, government has piloted the formation of a National Youth Peace Forum and district youth peace and unity committees in six pilot districts.
With the formulation of legislation guiding the peace and unity agenda, Chinsinga said Malawi will now be moving to scale up the structures across the country’s 35 administrative districts.
The youth peace and unity committees are sub-structures of more inclusive district peace and unity committees, in which youth are included, and the Malawi Peace and Unity Commission which is being established, will also include youths representation.
The conference was Malawi attended the conference following invitation by the African Union in line with the AU theme of 2018 on harnessing the demographic dividend through investments in youth.
The AU roadmap on harnessing the demographic dividend, entails that Africa must continually march towards a more prosperous future in which all its citizens, young, old, male, female, rural, urban, of all creeds and backgrounds are empowered to realise their full potential, live with satisfaction and pride about their continent.
The conference was held under the theme Roles of Governments, Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms in Promoting the Youth, Peace, and Security Agenda in the Southern Africa Region”.
