Kasungu youth feel sidelined, take on council

Youth in Kasungu on Friday took Kasungu District Council to task for sidelining them in decision making processes.

The youth, through Development Resource and Action Mentorship (Dream), together with Kasungu Youth Network, summoned service providers to an interface meeting to air their concerns.

Dream executive director Braxton Banda said many times the youth are regarded as passive recipients of services from the adults as a result; they have not been actively and meaningfully involved in decision making processes and other interventions.

“The youth do not visibly contribute to national development.

“For instance, decentralisation process provides a district focus approach where participation in area development committees [ACDs] and district executive committees [DEC] is key. However, the youth are not represented,” said Banda.

The council’s director of planning and development Ernest Kaphuka urged the youth to be proactive and organised.

“We have heard all the issues that are affecting the youth in Kasungu but I urge you to be organised and come up with a strong youth network that represents all the youth in the district,” said Kaphuka.

Deam is currently implementing a Youth Empowerment for Participation in Local government Structures Project with support from Malawi Human Rights Youth Network (MHRYN).np