LACK OF COMMITMENT TO INTERNATIONAL DECLARATIONS IMPEDES YOUTH EMPOWERMENT

By Kenson McCloud 

A youth rights activist, Dingiswayo Jere, has bemoaned lack of commitment on international declarations the country signed to as a major setback to youth empowerment in the country.

The remarks come as Malawi is participating in an on-going SADC dialogue in Botswana which seeks to provide an enabling platform for youth across the region to co-create solutions on unemployment and opportunities on entrepreneurship with key stakeholders.

According to Jere, despite the country participating in similar dialogues in the past, there has still been little to show for on the ground.

Jere cited the 2018 SADC declaration on the youth which sought to enhance the potential of young people to address issues of unemployment. Nothing has been materialised from that meeting.

Jere is of the view that most of the times the youth are not fully engaged in several initiatives therefore they do not have the ability to hold leaders accountable.

He has since implored the youth to be vigilant in ensuring that the country starts to benefit from global engagements on youth empowerment.