
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost): The much touted African Union Chapter (AUC), brain child of African Union (AU)’s protocol set to get grounds in Malawi aimed at developing ideas and methods for effective participation of youth in the public policy process through the formulation, implementation and evaluation of economic and social development policies, The Maravi Post has established.
Officially launched on March 27, 2016 at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, South Africa, AUC has already taken the center stage in all 53 African countries remaining with Malawi which is targeting young people from public and private higher learning institutions.
AUC is expected to align its activities to public and private colleges or universities’ student union with the mandate of tracking down and taking to task authorities in the implementation of AU protocols, charters among others.
Malawi’s AUC is slated to be launched again for May 25 at Chancellor College in Zomba after similar event occurred at Mzuzu University and that the second launch is coinciding with African Day which falls on the same day.
In an exclusive interview with The Maravi Post in the capital Lilongwe on the prospects of the AUC to Malawian young intellectuals, a head of the grand launch, Clement Makuwa Coordinator of the African Union Club – Malawi emphasized the need for government to totally commit its self-AU charters, protocol, agreements for the general public life improvements.
Makuwa who is also the President for Young Politician Union (YPU) disclosed that the grouping intends to inspire youth in higher learning institutions with the zeal to question the authority’s failures to implements all developmental agendas which the nation is a signatory.
“Malawi has been a party to several international signatory including health, agriculture and food, education bill of rights but much has been achieved yet authorities keep on entering into new agreements while our friends through AU Chapters and clubs, their policy agendas are turning into reality. This is what compelled us to form the same platform for the same exercise.
“Time is ripe for leaders to be accountable to citizen on developmental decision they make which don’t change people’s lives but rather instigating poverty. We want all young intellectuals in public and private higher learning institution to get organized with grouping which can stand together with one voice against impunities.
“After establishing a chapter in Mzuzu two weeks ago, we plan to launch another vibrant club at Chanco with the support from lecturers, research department and student unions for operational sustainability. By end of this year, all higher learning institutions will have AU chapters that their voices must change development agendas for the better than the current situation”, optimistic Makuwa.
Among other activities Malawi AUC is expected to carry includes carrying out research and analysis of public policies, including monitoring and evaluation of their impact on the youth, publishing and disseminating information on research findings so as to enlighten public policy debates and strengthen advocacy for youth related policies among other.
The African Union Club and Chapters whose values including democracy, human rights, the promotion of gender and youth rights and equality, and the fight for equality as well as the economic, social and political unity and stability for Africans was established in 2014.
AUC was co-founded by Khutso Evelyn Modiselle, an advocate of the momentous role of visionary leadership and currently pursuing her LLB (Law) post-graduate degree at the University of Cape Town, where she is also steering the transformation agenda at the University of Cape Town.
While her counterpart co-founder is Tracy Wamucii an advocate of the momentous role of visionary leadership and mentorship; she enrolled for the mentorship program and also served as a senior mentor in Department of Political Studies at the University of Cape Town.