Malawi will on 20th May 2014, 20 days from today vote
in the first ever Tripartite Elections that will see the coming to power of a
president, members of parliament and local councillors. The election is an
opportunity where candidates that have clear strategies on youth development and
women empowerment can be elected.
The electorate are strongly
urged to assess the aspiring candidates on issues they are promising to address
once elected into power. The fate of the
majority of candidates lies in the hands of the youth who comprise a majority
of registered voters. If the youth are going to use their vote wisely, Malawi
will elect leaders that will address challenges young people face in their daily
lives.
The youth in this country
are facing a number of challenges that include; limited employment
opportunities, limited participation in governance, HIV/ AIDS and lack of
access to Sexual Reproductive Health services, limited access to institutions of
higher learning, limited access to vocational centres and politicized youth
credit and loan schemes. The last three regimes since 1994 have not addressed
these issues comprehensively thereby leaving out a lot to be desired.
The 2014 Tripartite Elections create another rare opportunity for
young people to actively participate and elect governors that have proved to be
ready to take up the mantle and address the challenges that young people are
facing. Youth Net and Counselling (YONECO) has been conducting voter and civic
education to empower the electorate to vote for candidates that are committed
to address the critical issues affecting the youth. The organisation has
conducted a number of civic and voter education campaigns through a project
that is ensuring that the forth coming 2014 Tripartite Elections are based on
issues as opposed to handing out of materials and money. The project is being
supported by National Democratic Institute with funding from DFID.
For the youth to benefit from the forth coming May 20 Tripartite
Elections, they themselves are supposed to vote wisely. They are supposed to
elect leaders that have clear strategies that will address their challenges.
The onus to benefit from the elections entirely rests in the hands of all the
eligible young voters.