2014 ELECTIONS: THE MALAWI YOUTH CHARTER

I remember the first time I voted, I woke up as early as 5am and I was the first in line at the voting centre. I had never felt so much power in my hands to direct and influence the future of my country simply by ticking in a box. I feel voting is the most usual way that many Malawians feel they have direct power to influence change and get their voice to be heard once in 5 years. The same excitement that I felt four years and six months ago is what is building up inside me as I wait for that power and adrenaline rush when I cast my vote on 20^th May, 2014. 

As the day draws closer I ask how I can meaningfully participate in these elections.  How do I participate in pre and post election activities and even beyond elections? From previous experience as the case is in many African countries when you think youth political participation one word comes to mind : violence.  Somehow that is the most common way young people participate in elections. These young people are manipulated and coaxed in with fast cash and made to believe that is the only way they can participate.

I had the pleasure of attending a meeting this past month where nonprofit youth organizations  and youth activists are coming up with a youth charter for the 2014 aspirants, the charter will clearly stipulate the needs of the young people in Malawi and what we want to be done once the candidates  are voted into office. The charter will also demand for a social contract from the aspirants so that they are held accountable to the commitments made for the time they are in office. This is a very good initiative and a great way for young people to participate in elections as opposed to going in the streets to riot and vandalize people’s property. Malawi being a youthful nation with 65 percent of the country’s population being young people and the majority living in the rural areas, the youth have the power to turn the tables and topple the vote in their favor.

My first concern is: How do we buy in the support and morale of the young people in the rural areas where majority are struck by poverty and are unemployed. For any person to buy into a cause, whether bad or good there has to be some personal gain they get from it. So it is not as simple as one would think that these young people will buy into the charter, and shun the fast cash for a mere document. What will make these young people leave the streets and think of political participation as discussions with the relevant stakeholders so as to push the youth agenda forward? I have the privilege to know that there are many ways to participate in politics without actually going to the street, but that information is not common knowledge for young people especially those living in the rural areas with high illiteracy levels. 

My second concern is:  the participation of young women in the development and implementation of the youth charter. If this is a national document it is important for issues of young women to be clearly stipulated in the charter by young women’s voices and lived experiences. Not young women being spoken for by the opposite sex, older women or young men but young women themselves speak for themselves.  I feel most of the issues being advocated for on behalf of young women are not really the issues on the ground. For example, no one is asking the question why we have all these girls and young women getting pregnant as early as 12, everyone is assuming the usual causes of poverty, lack of parental and harmful cultural practices (the famous and most abused factor for everything!). No one really asks though why and how those harmful cultural practices are still in place after all these interventions? And why are young women greatly impacted by all the developmental issues compared to their counterparts? Just how much power and influence do these young women have over their own lives? The very simple duty of participating for a young woman in Malawi is highly controlled by other people in their lives such as their husbands, parents, guardians, older siblings and even the extended family members.  

What is required is to bring more youths especially young women on the table both from rural and urban areas, get their input into the charter. The magic word is CONSULTATIONS!!!  Make sure young women understand the role the play, the power and responsibility they have not only as the majority of the Malawi population but also to change the direction and future of Malawi not only for their benefit but for the next generation too. 

I AM EXCITED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!