By Fortune Juma:
Young Malawians are expressing hopes that President Peter Mutharika’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), scheduled for Friday this week will address their concerns and open opportunities for meaningful participation in the country’s development.
This will be the first SONA since Mutharika returned to power, making the address a key moment for the administration to outline its priorities and direction.
Speaking ahead of the SONA, youth said inclusion in national discussions is important because most young people are unemployed, which exposes them to risks such as drug use, crime, and other social challenges.
Caroline Kampani, a student at the Malawi Institute of Journalism hopes the president will highlight initiatives aimed at youth empowerment.
“Mentioning youth in the SONA gives hope. We expect commitments that will create jobs, improve security, and enhance access to quality education,” she said.
Arthur Maoni,a student at Mij but also entrepreneur said while the inclusion of youth in national discourse is positive, the key will be follow-through.
“It’s encouraging that the youth will be mentioned, but we hope any promises will not just be on paper. Implementation matters,” he said.
Recent statistics show that young people make up the largest portion of Malawi’s population.
Yet, unemployment and exclusion from development programs continue to push some into risky behaviors and economic vulnerability.
Analysts say the upcoming SONA presents an opportunity for the government to demonstrate how it plans to engage the youth in economic growth and nation-building.
President Mutharika’s address will be closely watched, with young people, civil society groups, and development partners hoping it will outline concrete steps to tackle youth unemployment, skills gaps, and access to education and technology.
