As Malawi prepares for elections in September, young candidates are pushing for political inclusion. But entrenched party structures and financial barriers stand in their way.
a southern Africa nation of 21 million people, will hold elections on September 16.
With more than half of Malawi’s population under the age of 35, the question of youth inclusion in politics has been drawing growing attention. During the 2019 elections, 54% of registered voters were between 18 and 35, according to the Commonwealth Observer Group and Malawi Electoral Commission records.
New seats, fresh hope?
A recent constituency redemarcation exercise added 35 new seats to the previous 193, bringing the total to 228. The expansion has sparked fresh interest among young people to join active politics, amid growing unemployment and the ongoing global cost of living crisis.
But as random interviews reveal, youthful entrants are meeting mixed fortunes. While some have successfully launched their careers, others say that talk of youth empowerment is often empty rhetoric in parties, where older leaders still influence candidate selection.
At 32, Ivy Sande, a former ward councilor, has the will, energy, education and passion that many voters say they want in their parliamentary representatives.
But after months of moving from village to village rallying support for her candidacy for office, she’s confronting a hard truth: breaking into Malawi’s politics isn’t just about fresh ideas. It means navigating party structures still dominated by well-connected old guards.
“I realized someone had already been endorsed. It’s like the decision was made before I even stood up so I left,” she claimed.
Youth should ‘influence key decisions’
According to Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) lawmaker Fyness Magonjwa, Malawi’s youngest parliamentarian, her maiden five-year term in office has been marked by strong support from both her party and constituents. She remains upbeat about retaining her seat in September’s elections.
She also urged her fellow youth not to settle for being used by political parties for menial tasks, but instead to aim for positions where they can influence key decisions.
“I’ve been fortunate to have the support of my party and the people I represent, and I believe I’ll return to Parliament in 2025. But parties must do more to create space for young people, not just as foot soldiers, but as decision-makers,” Magonjwa said.
Chimwemwe Tsitsi, a political scientist at the Malawi University of Business and Applied Sciences (MUBAS), believes the status quo will persist unless political parties make deliberate efforts to create fair competition.
Tsitsi emphasizes that youth entering politics must come prepared with a solid strategy rather than expecting success based on age or special consideration.
He stresses that facing competition is a necessary part of political maturity and socialization.
News Credit: Dw News
