President Lazarus Chakwera, who is also the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) presidential candidate, has emphasized the need for increased youth participation in leadership and development roles, describing it as vital for building a self-reliant Malawi.

Speaking during the presentation of the National Youth Manifesto on Monday at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, Chakwera highlighted the significant contributions young people make through innovation, despite often being overlooked in decision-making processes.

“As government, we are committed to continuing collaboration and engagement with the youth to ensure the sharing of ideas and aspirations, so we can transform Malawi together in line with the Vision 2063 development agenda,” Chakwera said.

He also encouraged young people to maintain regular dialogue with government to help promote transparency and accountability.

Commissioner Mwandila Theu, National Coordinator for the Youth Decide Campaign, expressed appreciation to the government for its progress in youth empowerment.

She praised the increased access to loans and grants for students and the growing employment opportunities for young people.

Rex Chapota, Executive Director of the National Youth Council of Malawi, thanked the President for achieving key milestones in youth development and for providing platforms that allow young people to engage directly with leadership.

The National Youth Manifesto was officially launched on June 25 during the National Youth Summit held in Lilongwe.