Centre for Community and Youth Development (CCYD), a local organization has called the Malawi government to swiftly address challenges youths are facing with comprehensive programs in a bid to prevent youth migration to South Africa for green pastures.
The call comes amid reports that youth are again returning to the rainbow nation despite the spate of xenophobic attack which claimed seven Malawians, about 213 injured and 3500 repatriated home.
In an exclusive interview the Maravi Post on Wednesday, Weston Msowoya, CCYD’s Executive Director expressed sadness over the development saying urgent attention towards the situation must looked into.
“CCYD has established that most of Malawians who were affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa were the youth who according to 2008 population and housing census form more than 40% of Malawian’s population. It’s disheartening to learn that some of them who were attacked have resorted to return to RSA.
“This just shows how prevailing poverty Malawi has for unable to provide tangible measures to address the migration of these youths to that other countries despites the National Youth Policy in place but challenges still rock young people in the country.
“Malawian youth are becoming increasingly vulnerable due to inadequate vocational training, homelessness, high unemployment rate, underemployment, sexual harassment, health related issues, teenage pregnancy, early marriages, crime and general youth deviance, marginalization, youth non-involvement in decision making, smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, among others”, worries Mkandawire.
He therefore calls government to vehemently consider youths’ need in the ongoing public reforms programs which among things is to reduce the retirement age of civil servants from the current 60 years to 50, to pave way for the qualified youth.
“CCYD has noted that both learned and unlearned youths of Malawi are facing similar problems which force them to migrate to other countries to seek what is usually degrading job opportunities. This problem can, ably be addressed if there is transparency and political will among our leaders.
“Malawi government should reduce retirement age of people working in the civil service from the current 60 years to 50, to pave way for the qualified youth. CCYD also feels that despite financial ailments the country is sailing through the government should fill about 60,000 available vacancies in the civil service to provide the youth with job opportunities.
“CCYD therefore appeals to all Malawians especially the youth who intends to go back to South Africa, to hold such a thoughts at the moment and find some locally available opportunities. CCYD will endeavor to engage the appropriate authorities to create conducive environment for the youth”, assures Mkandawire.
CCYD is working towards provision of an appropriate opportunity to enable the youth develop socially, economically, culturally and earn political skills to enhance their meaningful participation in the overall development process and improve their quality of life.
