Youths want more participation in regional blocs

The Young Politicians Union (YPU) has called on government to conduct a needs assessment targeting youth in agribusiness and their level of participation in regional and international trade blocs.

Some youth activists expressed dissatisfaction at a public debate organised by the National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust in Lilongwe recently that they are not benefiting much from the various regional and international trade blocs Malawi is party to.

They argued that this is so because government is not doing much to motivate and protect young people willing to actively participate in the activities of regional trade blocs such as the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

YPU national director Clement Makuwa on Monday said there are a number of challenges that need to be dealt with before the local youth can start enjoying the fruits from Malawi’s participation and membership with various blocs.

He acknowledged that blocs such as the Sadc regional economic and trade integration initiative are an important avenue for addressing youth unemployment.

During a public debate organised by Nice Trust recently, Nice Trust Sadc desk officer, Stella Kalengamaliro, and Principal Foreign Service Officer in the Department of International Cooperation, Bertrand Khanyizira, challenged young people to seek and digest information on issues that concern them at national and regional level.

Kalengamaliro  emphasised the need for the youth to develop an inquisitive mind and search for information on issues surrounding Sadc. n