Malawi to launch National Youth Service, Minister tells House: ‘Basic military training to be offered’
Malawi government will soon launch the National Youth Service program aimed at curbing unemployment among the youth and see their social and economic potential being exploited, Minister of Labour, Youth and Manpower Development Henry Mussa has told parliament.
Mussa disclosed this when he was answering to a question from member for Mchinji North East (MCP), Alex Chitete who asked the ministry to re-introduce a youth week.
Chitete said the youth week was important for development as the youth were contributing to the development of the county.
“ We could tell that our youth were productive citizens of the county,” said Chitete.
In his response, Mussa said Youth week was “ a very good initiative”, saying he was among the youth that were actively involved in the Youth Week.
However, Mussa said government shall be introducing the National Youth Service Programme.
“ In there are activities that will definitely will cut a cross some of the work or contribution to the social and economic activities of our youth that shall stem out of this National Youth Service,” said Mussa.
Last year, President Peter Mutharika to parliament that a National Service will offer the youth military training.
He said the military training will be “basic.”
But his statement was received with sceptics from critics on the element of military training fearing government wants to run another para-military wing like MYP.
Critics say Malawi was not at war to train school leavers in military skills.
But Leader of the House, Francis Kasaila said in an interview that government is only interested to prepare young people for the future through giving them the necessary survival skills.
He explained that the National Service will also help in entrepreneurial skills in fields such as carpentry, bricklaying and computers among others.
The MYP camps were also giving such trainings.
But his statement was received with sceptics from critics on the element of military training fearing government wants to run another para-military wing like MYP.
Critics say Malawi was not at war to train school leavers in military skills.
But Leader of the House, Francis Kasaila said in an interview that government is only interested to prepare young people for the future through giving them the necessary survival skills.
He explained that the National Service will also help in entrepreneurial skills in fields such as carpentry, bricklaying and computers among others.
The MYP camps were also giving such trainings.
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A very dangerous move as a military trained youth who can’t find employment will resort to organized crime like armed robbery, cash heist, utilizing his ability to overpower police and security. However it is good as it provides free human resource to government departments that need it like health, construction, education department.
Bravo Aubrey Thulani!! You are indeed,a partriot.In Africa,national political leaders,FEAR and respect the military officers but in Malawi, it is vice versa the Military High Command fears and respect the leaders.hence the establishments of corrupt and despotic regimes.
Did the Minister really answer the question from the MP ? Youth Week was a week through which the Youth mobilized themselves and with supervision, they did development work for free. This question recieved an answer of indulging the Youth to pursue military training.
Inde inde tiphumzitseni zimenezo tikamapita kujo tizikaziteteza, military yomweo basi
agalu amenewa atha kudzabweretsanso youth week eti?nanga nyakula?
One wonders if Minister Mussa erred in his choice of worlds, about military training, and Kasaila on survival skills. If they really reflect this government’s intentions, we Malawians have to say NO! We’ve been there before. As those of us who witnessed how the MYP, as the personal everything force for Kamuzu, abused everyone who was not part of his coterie. Tonse timangonjenjemela (People would almost pee themselves when approached by those MYP thugs!) They thought Kamuzu and his MCP owned the country and the people: only to run with tail between the legs when confronted by the real Arm… Read more »
History repeats itself,The former dreaded MYP was formed to contribute economic endeavours for the nation but,few years later was turned into a brutal and vicious armed rogues with unprecedented and unlimited powers which made them wholly obove the law.To cut long story short,MYP was a personal wild organization directed by Banda himself.At time MYP was adequately armed more so than Police force and the Military Armed Forces.Malawians,we have been there before,we must not take Muthalika’s dubious plans lightly,he is on his way to turn Malawi a POLICE STATE and single-handedly control the organs of the government for self interests and… Read more »
No to basic military training but yes to development of entrepreneurial skills!
Please cut out the crap on basic military training.DPP just want to introduce an armed wing like Malawi Young Pioneer by back door.Please, Malawi Army High Command do not allow this stupidity to prevail.We will end up creating a nation of armed robbers and criminals.How would you trust a clueless DPP regime that is falling to employ teachers and nursies to run this program successfully.They are already abusing National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) by involving them into partisan politics.Police is involved in armed robbery. If they have bribed stupid General Ignitious Maulana please MDF officers rise stand up to protect us… Read more »