By Rose Cross Mahorya

Mzuzu, May 16, Mana: National Youth Council of Malawi (NYCOM) on Thursday launched consultation meetings on the development of its 2024-2025 strategic plan.

Speaking in Mzuzu during the launching ceremony of the plan, Executive Director for NYCOM, Rex Chapota, said the plan should be youth-centred so that it can guide implementation of youth driven strategies for them to contribute to the country’s development.

Chapota urged the youths to have self-esteem, stand for what they feel will work for them and voice out challenges and propose solutions to the same so that they are incorporated in the plan.

"The consultations are not a once for all activity which is done to show off. I need young people in every part of this country to be sending in their views for the betterment of this strategic plan which will reflect a true situation concerning youths on the ground.

“This is your council; therefore, it must be driven to the future that you envision it to go," said Chapota.

He added that youths should look forward to more opportunities through NYCOM.

“We will soon be calling for applications for agribusiness grants from youths, and we are currently in the process of consulting for more affordable terms of conditions so that more young people access these grants," said Chapota.

Chairperson for Mzuzu Youth Network, Salome Kadazi, commended the council for consulting the youth on the development of the plan and said that the process will contribute towards the success of the plan.

"For a very long time, youths have been rarely consulted on issues affecting them, let alone on national development programs, a development that made it hard for youths to fully participate and benefit from such interventions,” said Kadazi.

 She said the consultation should not be the end in itself but incorporate views as submitted by different stakeholders in the youth development sector.

“Youths need to be empowered financially if they are to contribute positively to the development of this country," said Kadazi.

Director of Planning and Development for Mzuzu City Council, Philemon Maseko, said it is high time youths were empowered and given a chance to be part of planning and decision making processes, as young people are part of the country's driving force.

The council's previous strategic plan expired in 2020.