Without molding the youth for the desired politics, Malawi runs the risk
of molding political destruction.
Empowerment
seems to be the common theme among Malawian politicians when it comes to
talking about the need for the complete involvement of the youth in politics.
However, looking at the youth empowerment discourse critically convinces one
that the theme is nothing but a grand talk shop oozing the air of a genuine
agenda when actually it is a self-serving ideology having all the hallmarks of
youth political cannibalism.
Being
politically adventurous as he is, the author has participated in many a
political gatherings and institutions. The author, himself once a political
party prostitute, has served almost all big political parties in Malawi in
different ranks during his studentship days.
The
first case of youth political party cannibalism the author experienced was with
United Democratic Front (UDF) where, with time, he served almost in all big
positions. Rosy promises were made; invitation to national party meetings,
movement from the Wing to the nation party, and all that jazz. But, sadly, all
was offered was a platform to sing and dance at party rallies. That's all.
Then
favors for UDF waned. Then came Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). It promised
a change in the way Malawi politics looks at the youth--the disempowered
majority. Joining DPP especially during the controversial Quota System debate
made politics more real; nocturnal meetings, grand internal disagreements etc.
Things seemed okay. No wonder, joining Prodeyom seemed to be the best decision
then. What started as a health relationship soon became sour as no change was
seen coming. The author later dumped DPP during its infamous days and joined
University Students for New Agenda for Change (UniSAC).
UniSAC
was a University students movement garnering political support for
you-know-who. It was a vibrant and visionary organization for the man for whom
the organization was formed seemed equally visionary. Unfortunately, things hit
a snag when the man joined the Orange camp, openly announcing that all he ever
wanted was a change in leadership and not presidency.
Later
on, perhaps the only choice at the time, joining the Orange camp seemed
plausible. It came to be known later in one meeting that the Predoyom Chair was
also the chair of the Orange youth camp--the Orange Partners (OP). Mere
curiosity gave way to dedication.
He attended the nocturnal meetings at lodges
mostly around Blantyre. There we talked. We talked how the youth are abused and
dumped and how the Orange camp will put an end to that. And we all clapped
hands in unison. Those were the days. Now the story is the same as during the
Yellow camp, and Blue camp. And, such seems to be youth empowerment politics in
Malawi.
As
brink as the future for meaningful youth empowerment was then, the author
fallen in love with the then-vibrant-now-dormant youth organization--the Youth
Association for Democracy in Malawi (YADEMA). Wapona Kita and Leon Matanda were
the guys. The guys talked the youth, ate the youth, and laughed the youth.
Meeting the two for the first time (since communication had been only through
the phone) at Chanco's Room K was a time well-spent. It is at this meeting that
youth political activism was maddeningly live.
Today,
some months on, it feels tenable to argue that the Malawi youth have the
potential to reclaim the political glory long lost and perhaps forgotten.
Today, one year on, it looks like the future have the perfect chances to revive
the true youth political spirit by organizing themselves through inclusively
participative youth groups like YADEMA and Walking With The Youth.
Unlike
Walking With The Youth, YADEMA has tested Malawi's political uncertainities at
the time the late wa Mutharika was increasingly fiercely autocratic, and it emerged
ever stronger and stronger. Again, YADEMA has the formal links necessary for an
explosive nation-building youth agenda though its largest membership and voice
is more virtual than it is human--perhaps a critical are to look into.
Fruitful
youth political engagement is possible in Malawi only the youth reshape their
articulation of vision and relinquish their heavy reliance on the 'old guards'
to voluntarily leave the political space for them--something they old guards
for sure cannot do. This engagement is possible in two fronts; first, there is
need to re-organize the mental space and redefine politics in their own terms
though with strong leaning to current political events--local or international,
and second, to de-link youth groups from political parties by establishing an
independently solid source of funds.
This
is cause worth the support of the government, Non-Governmental Organizations
(NGOs), human rights organizations, and the corporate world because without
molding the youth for the desired politics, the Malawi nation runs the risk of
molding political destruction.
Unless
there is re-focusing on the part of the youth and their groups should there be
real escape from the chains of political party youth cannibalism characterizing
Malawi political parties. It is hoped that amongst the youth there will rise
strong-willed and value-driven youths who will lead the youth--the abused
majority--in their calculated action towards reclaiming Malawi's long-lost
political space for the youth and for the nation, and so smoothly with
extensive external non-political support.
No comments:
Post a Comment