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Thyolo District Council Admits Youths Sidelined in Public Positions

Vice chairperson for Thyolo District Council, Councillor Hudson Ovira, has admitted that many youths in the country are not being taken on board in crucial public positions except to cause political violence.

Speaking to Zodiak Online on Thursday, Ovira lamented that for along time, the country has neglected the inclusion of the very energetic and majority population which is the youth in development activities at all levels.

Ovira has observed that apart from low funding to youth activities in the country, most of the qualified youths especially girls are getting opportunities in public space after they exchange with sex with duty bearers.

He has further taken a swipe at some fellow politicians who are waiting for campaign period to introduce sports trophies instead of helping the youths with productive initiatives now.

Chairperson for Nchiramwera Youth Network, Delilah Msomati, also corroborated that Malawi has a lot of qualified youths who can drive the country’s transformation agenda, but they are not given the space in the public domain, except through sex.

All this came out during the Area Development Committee (ADC) and Youth Network engagement organised by Change 4Us, whose executive director, Kondwani Mwendo Phiri believes the interactions would bridge the gaps and find possible solutions on why most youths do not fully take part in development.

"We want to understand the mindset of Area Development Committees (ADCs) when it comes to the issues to do with meaningful youth participation; what do they think are challenges young people are facing on the same," he said.

Mwendo-Phiri has equally expressed dismay that the youth continue accessing opportunities in public space after engaging in sexual transactions, calling on them to be confident and fight for their rights.

Through a K1.5 million support from National Democratic Institute (NDI), the organisation is implementing a two months baseline project dubbed 'Breaking the barriers for youth participation in governance at district and community level', in the area of Senior chief Nchiramwera.

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