Malawi Congress Party (MCP) youths in the Northern Region commemorated Kamuzu Day on Saturday with an arts contest in Rumphi District.
The youths competed in music, poetry and dance where winners were awarded cash prizes and MCP party cloth.
From the word go at Country Annex Lodge, it was clear that the district is starved of youth entertainment as the venue was thronged with youths, mostly from the surrounding secondary schools.
Those who competed showcased their skills that lack avenues for exposure in a remote district of the region.
MCP national deputy youth director Bernard Mtawali said the contest was meant to give the youth an alternative to stop them from illicit behaviours.
“We want to teach the youth that they can pursue dancing, music or poetry as a career. This is a better path for them than being used by politicians to intimidate others,” he said.
Mtawali said arts can empower the youth to stop depending on politicians for hand-outs.
He, therefore, asked government officials to include the youth in various programmes if they are to be empowered.
Regional youth director (North-North) Mathias Mgemezulu said the party will be holding such contests frequently.
He said MCP wants to strengthen and preserve Malawian culture to make sure that the youth do not copy other cultures.
May 14 was set aside to honour the country’s founding president, Hastings Kamuzu Banda, who died in 1997.
