Patricia Kaliati criticizes the timing of youth engagement sessions concerning the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the budget, arguing they should occur beforehand. She notes that such discussions are vital to ensuring that young people’s voices are included in national policymaking, especially following a recent engagement with President Chakwera that revealed youth frustrations about their exclusion from key decisions.
Honorable Patricia Kaliati has raised concerns regarding the timing of youth engagement sessions related to the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and the national budget. She posits that these discussions should occur prior to the President’s delivery of SONA to incorporate the perspectives of young individuals effectively. Addressing the youth post-SONA renders their contributions irrelevant, according to Kaliati, who advocates for deliberate dialogue in advance to ensure youth interests are reflected in national policies.
Furthermore, Kaliati highlighted an incident where President Lazarus Chakwera faced scrutiny during a recent engagement with youth at the State House. During this interaction, attendees posed the challenging question, “Are you the leader, or should we wait for someone else?” Kaliati noted that the President was unable to provide a definitive answer, which underscores the escalating dissatisfaction among young people concerning their exclusion from significant decision-making processes.
Kaliati’s remarks come amid a growing demand for the government to become more responsive to youth concerns. She asserts that integrating young people’s voices into discussions before SONA would allow the administration to align its policies more closely with their needs. This call for improved youth involvement in governance is expected to incite further discourse on the effectiveness of Malawi’s engagement with its younger population.
In summary, Patricia Kaliati’s criticisms of the timing of youth engagement sessions emphasize the importance of early and meaningful dialogue with young people before the State of the Nation Address. Her observations highlight the need for government responsiveness to youth concerns, particularly following the recent engagement with President Chakwera, where young citizens expressed their frustrations. The proposed changes could facilitate better alignment between governmental policies and the needs of the youth.
Original Source: malawi24.com
