By Milcah Mathias

Blantyre, June 19, Mana: Young Women’s Christian Association of Malawi (YWCA) has encouraged the youth in Blantyre to ensure that aspiring candidates for parliamentary and local government positions in the September 16 elections include in their manifestos initiatives to address issues that affect the sector.

This was said on Wednesday during an interface meeting with the youth and aspiring candidates for parliamentary and local government positions at Chigojo Community-Based Childcare Centre (CBCC) in Traditional Authority Machinjiri in Blantyre.

YWCA Project Officer, Vitumbiko Mkinga said the engagement meeting funded by ‘Her Voice Fund’ was promoting active participation of youths in voting processes and also encouraging aspiring candidates to include in their manifestos initiatives that promote youth empowerment.

“We have seen the youth discussing crucial topics with aspiring candidates regarding economic empowerment, education access, health, employment opportunities, technical and vocational skills, which is commendable,” said Mkinga.

Blantyre District Youth Officer, Peter Mizedya said youths in the district experience numerous challenges and that it was pleasing that they had a platform to highlight crucial issues that require political leaders’ attention once they are voted into power.

Mizedya, however, advised the youth to desist from being used by political leaders to perpetrate violence.

“Vote for those that will bring development in the area and not those who will use you to advance their selfish agendas,” he said.

Chairperson for Machinjiri Youth Network, Petros Katopola urged the aspiring candidates to include youth technical and vocational skills initiatives in their manifestos to support the youth in Machinjiri Township.

Some of the aspiring candidates present during the meeting included aspiring Independent MP, Klaus Chikufenji, United Democratic Front (UDF), shadow MP Sanhl Vahhani and aspiring Local Government representative Anthony Kabuwe also on UDF ticket.