As Malawi moves toward the September 16th general election, child rights advocate Memory Chisenga has issued a passionate appeal to political parties to put children’s welfare at the heart of their campaign manifestos.

With political parties unveiling their agendas ahead of the polls, Chisenga emphasized that the well-being of Malawi’s children—who make up the largest portion of the population—must be central to any national development strategy.

She raised concern that critical issues such as child abuse, exploitation, limited access to quality education, healthcare, and clean water continue to be neglected in political discourse, despite their profound impact on the nation’s future.

“It is unfortunate that child protection issues are often overlooked, although children make up the largest segment of our population. As such, it is time for political leaders to make children’s voices count,” Chisenga stated.

Her comments follow the launch of the National Children’s Manifesto earlier this year—a youth-driven document outlining children’s demands for a safer, healthier, and more equitable future.

Chisenga urged party leaders and policymakers to draw from the manifesto and incorporate concrete plans to protect and invest in children.