'Youths critical in determining political discourse' - Nation Online

Source: The Nation Online
Author: Lloyd Chitsulo

Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) chairperson Chifundo Kachale says youths have a vital role in shaping the political discourse, but warned them against being used for political violence.

He said this yesterday at a public lecture titled 'Unlocking The Power Within Youths For Future Leadership' he delivered at the University of Malawi in Zomba.

Kachale described the youth as a rich pool of resources for political and social transformation whose political socialisation has a lasting impact on attitudes and behaviours.

He said: "The energy, idealism and technological fluency of the youth position them as key drivers of positive change. They are a key asset in our change agenda."

The High Court of Malawi judge said youths have the capacity to take the nation forward owing to their numerous positive attributes which politicians normally exploit in their pursuit of political agendas.

He highlighted attributes such as their high population which overshadows other groups, their high levels of energy and extensive knowledge.

Kachale said regardless of that, youths are also vulnerable due to their inexperience which results in their being naïve and gullible; hence, prone to abuse by older generations by among others, offering them money to commit political violence.

He said their impatience makes them vulnerable and can make them sabotage their future.

"Youths need to learn to be productive so that the proverb ubwana umalanda [being mindful of what you do as you grow] should not be true of them. Life is not a rehearsal," he said.

Kachale said beyond technical proficiency, the true quality of leadership is moral values and ethics which the youth need to nurture and invest since it will serve them well in moments of real opportunities.

He said while leadership is not a right, the youth need to understand that people will recognise them as leaders by what they do and who they are.

The MEC chairperson said it is, therefore, important for the country's youth to realise their full potential, especially at a time the country is moving towards the 2025 General Elections.

During the public lecture, Kachale also clarified on a number of issues pertaining to the 2025 polls.

Unima School of Law Economics and Governance executive dean Happy Kayuni in his introductory remarks described Kachale's presence at the institution as an honour and a testament to the significance of the public lecture's title.

"As we gather here, we recognise that we stand on sacred ground, an institution with a rich legacy of political activism that spurs critical chapters of the nation's history.

"You cannot talk about the youth and politics in Malawi and bypass the University of Malawi. Then, that history is not relevant," he said.

Kachale's public lecture yesterday was his second. On February 16 this year, he held his inaugural public lecture at Mzuzu University titled 'Democracy, Law Reform, and Preparation for the 2025 General Elections'.

As the country moves towards the September 2025 General Elections, MEC will hold public lectures in the country's universities to foster a culture of democracy and participation.

MEC projects that in the forthcoming polls, the country will have 10 957 490 eligible voters.

The figures show that the Central Region will have 4 827 703 eligible voters followed by the Southern Region with 4 706 285 and the Northern Region with 1 423 502