By Austin Kananji

Lilongwe, February 20, Mana: Minister of Youth and Sports, Uchizi Mkandawire has emphasized on the need for Members of Parliament (MPs) to allocate District Development Funds towards constructing facilities like youth resource centres as other partners like World bank are already helping the initiative.

In an interview during the private members' day, Mkandawire emphasized that the parliamentary budget allocates resources to districts for the construction of youth resource centers.

"We would like to clarify that the budgets introduced in this house allocate resources to district councils, such as the District Development Funds and the Constituency Development Funds. It is our expectation that our honorable members will appropriately utilize these funds for the construction of youth resource centers," he said.

He added that although the resources allocated by the government to the constituencies are not sufficient to cover all the needs, partners are stepping in to help address this issue.

"We know that district councils work with various partners, and resources from organizations like the World Bank are directed to them. It is within the power of district councils to decide which projects to implement with these resources. This was also clarified earlier by the Ministry of Local Government, which receives resources from partners to fund projects in their districts. Therefore, while our ministry may face resource limitations, other partners assist us in securing the funds needed to construct prioritized projects," he added.

The minister was responding to a question raised by the Member of Parliament for Chiradzulu Central, Mctimes Malowa, during the 51st meeting of the first session of Private Members' Day.

Malowa had asked the Minister of Youth and Sports to consider constructing a Youth Resource Centre at Senior Chief Likoswe's Headquarters. The proposed centre would provide the youth of Senior Chief Likoswe with facilities for recreational activities and serve as a skills development hub.

With the government's ongoing efforts to promote youth development, the construction of youth resource centres is a vital step toward empowering young people. By utilizing district funds and partnering with organizations like the World Bank, Malawi can create vibrant hubs for youth growth, helping shape a brighter future for its young citizens.