{"id":67108,"date":"2018-06-19T07:15:20","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T05:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.times.mw\/?p=67108"},"modified":"2018-06-19T07:15:20","modified_gmt":"2018-06-19T05:15:20","slug":"dpp-convention-is-chance-to-give-youths-new-impetus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/2018\/06\/19\/dpp-convention-is-chance-to-give-youths-new-impetus\/","title":{"rendered":"DPP convention is chance to give youths new impetus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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BUSINESS\u2014 I see a lot of youths vying for positions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is not often that ruling parties listen to the voice of reason and hold elective conventions.<\/p>\n

To begin with, elective convention drain party resources. Anyone who has organised a convention or big gathering of people from all walks of life may attest to the fact that logistics and people management become a real nightmare.<\/p>\n

In our situation, the situation is even complicated because political parties do not have real estate through which they can generate income for financing operations of political parties.<\/p>\n

In most cases, especially for political parties that representation in Parliament, their main source of income is the allocation they get from the National Assembly, which is not even enough to pay support staff at party secretariats.<\/p>\n

Again, for a political party to hold an elective convention, it needs to have well-established structures from which to draw delegates. And a lot goes into the process of putting people into positions, often through transparent and open votes, so that those people can become legitimate delegates.<\/p>\n

It is these people who do the work on the ground, mobilising people, ensuring that they disseminate information about the party\u2019s policies to people, as well as ensuring that they link what a ruling party is doing in government to its manifesto, so that people can really believe that elected leaders are living up to their promises.<\/p>\n

That is what political leaders mean when they tell incumbent presidents, or their representatives, that \u201cwe are doing something on the ground\u201d.<\/p>\n

It is not only leaders who make political parties tick. Followers too, the ordinary man in the village, do a lot.<\/p>\n

Additionally, an elective convention becomes a headache to, not only organisers but those vying for elective positions too. For example, those vying for positions have to engage an extra gear in campaign. They have to sell themselves as better than others.<\/p>\n

That goes with money, too.<\/p>\n

This is why, when people are vying for positions at an elective convention, they invest their resources in their campaign, canvassing for votes. Which is why, when elective conventions are around the corner, political parties ask for the support of well-wishers.<\/p>\n

In future, I hope it will become easier for well-wishers to come forward, and for political parties to welcome such help, especially after the country has made progress on political financing issues, with a legal framework being put in place.<\/p>\n

It is with my understanding of what goes on before political parties hold elective conventions that I find the ruling Democratic Progressive Party\u2019s (DPP) decision to hold a convention commendable. As I have alluded to, it is not easy to hold a convention.<\/p>\n

At first, DPP secretary general, Grezelder Jeffrey, announced that the elective convention would be held this month.<\/p>\n

However, the party\u2019s National Governing Council met over the weekend and agreed that the convention be held from July 1 to 3 at Comesa Hall in Blantyre.<\/p>\n

Elective Convention chairperson, Nicholas Dausi, said several factors \u201cconvinced\u201d the party to shift dates of the indaba from this month to next.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs you know, Members of Parliament are meeting and, as such, we did not want to disturb them. Let them deliberate on national issues such as the budget without being disturbed. This country needs development. We need to continue developing the country and that happens through the national budget.<\/p>\n

\u201cSecondly, we want to give those who want to vie for positions a chance to sell themselves to delegates. After that, we will address the media on any relevant issues. What is important is to note that the convention is on, and that it will be a well-organised convention where people will be free to choose people they want. The DPP is a democratic party,\u201d Dausi said.<\/p>\n

Which brings me to my next point. One of the things that have dominated debate in the run up to the convention is the youth involvement in political and national development issues.<\/p>\n

It is easy to call for the involvement of youths without necessarily creating a necessary environment for their involvement.<\/p>\n

I think, for a long time, we have neglected the intellectual when addressing the issue of youths\u2019 involvement in politics. Which makes me wonder aloud: Why do we have party wings in tertiary institutions in the country if those who participate in the activities of the wings do not put their head on the rail by participating in national politics?<\/p>\n

Surely, members of party wings in colleges can do well by vying for positions during elective conventions. This is the only way political parties can begin to apply politics of the book in promoting intra-party democracy in the country.<\/p>\n

Somehow, this seems to be happening already.<\/p>\n

Last week, college youths met at The Polytechnic, Chichiri Campus, in Blantyre where they deliberated on issues to do with their meaningful involvement in politics.<\/p>\n

One of the issues they agreed on was to endorse Chriss Connex Muhuwa as deputy national youth director.<\/p>\n

At a meeting that brought together executive members of all college wings from the Southern and Eastern regions, the youth reaffirmed their stance of endorsing President Arthur Peter Mutharika as the DPP torchbearer.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the conference, Malawi University of Science and Technology DPP Wing publicity secretary, Patrick Kalombola, described Muhuwa as someone who has demonstrated hardworking, mature and visionary leadership.<\/p>\n

He further said Muhuwa knows what the youth need and that he will bring harmony among the youths in their campaign to support Mutharika in the May 21 2019 Tripartite Elections.<\/p>\n

Blantyre International University president, Gzndeeir Kamwanga, said college youths can play a crucial role in making democracy work.<\/p>\n

Muhuwa, on his part, said he respects the choice of his fellow youths and will strive not to disappoint them if the party entrusts him with the position at the July 1 to 3 elective convention.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t take it for granted that the college youths have put their trust in me to lead them. Successful little experience is better than vast failed experience; let no one look down upon me. My vision is to see meaningful and active participation of youths continuously and not as a one-off event months before elections,\u201d Muhuwa said.<\/p>\n

Blue Wing Head of Media and Public Relations, Alex Business, said Muhuwa\u2019s endorsement by college youths is an indication that youths have a role to play in national development affairs.<\/p>\n

\u201cLook, some people have been saying we need youthful leaders. The surprising thing is that those they describe as youths are aged 45 and more years. It does not make sense. College youths are real youths in the strictest sense of the word. And these youths want President Peter Mutharika to stand as DPP torch-bearer because he is surrounded by youths who are wise and enlightened.<\/p>\n

\u201cI see a lot of youths vying for positions at the DPP elective convention and this is encouraging. The country needs youths with substance. Youths who know who a youth is. So, we are encouraged that youths are coming forward. It is the way to go,\u201d Business said.<\/p>\n

However, whether youths have made inroads or now will be determined by outcomes at the elective convention.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is not often that ruling parties listen to the voice of reason and hold elective conventions. To begin with, elective convention drain party resources. Anyone who has organised a convention or big gathering of people from all walks of life may attest to the fact that logistics and people management become a real nightmare. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":67115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-67108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67108"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67108\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67117,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67108\/revisions\/67117"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67115"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.times.mw\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}