Increased youth participation in local governance was called for in August at a gathering to commemorate the African Day of Decentralisation and Local Development in Malawi.

Held in the capital, Lilongwe, the event’s theme was Equal opportunities, socio economic empowerment and youth participation in local governance and local development in Africa.

Malawi adopted their decentralisation policy in 1998 to ensure quality service delivery and to effectively promote socio economic development in local communities.

Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Kiswell Dakamau explained that, given a chance, young people can really accelerate development. He said: "On the basis of equal opportunity and gender equity, they must be elected as local representatives to enable local governments take decisions that reflect the needs of young people."

He praised the progress to date in involving young people at local council level, citing youth representation in councils, and said that government was giving serious consideration about how best to involve them further.

There was a call by one of the Youth Parliamentarians for Dowa West, Gibson Kasalika, for at least 30 per cent inclusion of young people in local government structures; followed by a request for young people themselves to reconsider their views on taking part in local government activities.