Towards 2025: Malawian youth call for greater political representation

As Malawi prepares for the 2025 general elections, the Youth and Society (YAS) group is urging political parties and stakeholders to prioritize youth participation and inclusion.

“Now is the time for young people to take an active part in shaping Malawi’s future”.

“We must seize this opportunity to address the glaring underrepresentation of youth in the political arena,” said Charles Kajoloweka, executive director of YAS, in a press statement

According to YAS, despite comprising 80% of the population, young people are still severely underrepresented in decision-making positions.

“This imbalance must be corrected if we are to build a truly inclusive and democratic society,” Kacholoveka stressed.

Speaking at the launch of the 2025 tripartite elections in Lilongwe on Friday, the Chairman of the Bombay Election Commission, Annabelle Mtalimanja, also called on the youth and women to actively participate in the upcoming elections.

Bank Negara Malaysia welcomed the call but stressed the need for concrete actions to turn commitments into reality.

“Young people are often excluded from decision-making positions in political parties, which severely limits their influence on the policy agenda,” Kacholovica noted.

He further said: “We need to create platforms for young people to express their views, provide guidance and training to young political aspirants and ensure that youth issues are featured prominently in political party manifestos.”

The MEC has launched the 2025 general elections, calling on everyone to take personal responsibility and help advance democracy in the country by voting.

The theme for the 2025 election is “Promoting Democratic Leadership Through Your Vote” and the Commission will conduct a voter registration exercise, requiring everyone to register as a voter.

YAS called on all political parties, civil society organizations and stakeholders to take concrete steps to enable meaningful participation of young people in the 2025 elections.

“Let us work together to remove barriers that hinder youth participation and pave the way for a more inclusive political environment,” Kacholoveka urged.