Youth have been urged to be proactive in projects if the country is to register any meaningful development.
Nkhadze Alive Youth Organisation (Nayorg) Executive Director, Charles Sinetre, said there is no better time for the youth to take a leading role in development than now when they have achieved considerable representation in project committees.
Speaking last week in Balaka when Nayorg met youth monitors to impress upon them the need to speak out their stand on governance and democracy in implementation of development, Sinetre said youth should seal all gaps and loopholes which made development fail.
“Now that young people have been taken on board in most development committees such as Village Development Committees (VDC), Area Development Committees (ADC) and even full council committees, it is time for them to be proactive rather than being reactive to monitor how funds meant for development are being used,” Sinetre said.
He said there are about three youth representatives in most developmental grass-
roots structures which give them a leverage to provide checks and balances in developmental issues in their respective areas.
A youth representative from Sawali, Trintas Chikwawa, said it is now time for the voice of the youth to be heard.
Nayorg’s Tilitonse Youth Projects Officer, Henderson Hlashi, said 61 youth monitors from four traditional authorities in Balaka have been empowered on the need to monitor issues to do with development.
“Duty bearers should be responsive to the needs of the rights holders in terms of development and youth are better placed to speak out when there is mismanagement or abuse of funds meant for development,” Hlashi said.
Nayorg is implementing a governance and democracy project in Balaka with funding from Tilitonse for three years.
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