YOUTH UNIMPRESSED WITH BUDGET

By Meclina Chirwa

Youth under the banner Youth Decide Campaign have deplored low budget funding to the Ministry of Youth, National Youth Council of Malawi (Nycom) and the Students Loans Board saying it is an insult to the youth who make up at least 70 percent of the country's population.

Youth Decide Campaign Team Leader, Charles Kajoloweka, says they have done a quick analysis of the 2020/21 national budget which was presented in the August House two weeks ago, and noted that most the youth programs have been under funded.

Kajoloweka told the media in Mzuzu on Friday that they are not happy that only K7.3 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Youth while NYCOM has been given K370 million.

According to Kajoloweka, its worrisome that the ministry of youth and the national youth council continue to receive low funding. 

"The current figures of the the allocation to the Ministry of Youth is only 0.4 percent of the K2.2 trillion which is an insult to the young people." fumed, Kajoloweka. 

The youth activist hinted that if the country is to empower young people, resourcing strategic institutions responsible for youth empowerment and Ministry of Youth is "the very key". 

He also says the K8 billion deficits at the Students Loans Board will affect about 12, 500 students who are likely to be withdrawn due to lack of fees.