Children’s Parliament laments failure by MDAs to implement their resolutions

Speaker of the Malawi National Children’s Parliament, Gomezgani Nyasulu, has expressed disappointment with the tendency by government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to disregard resolutions children present during their meetings.

Gomezgani expressed the disappointment at the opening of the second session of the children’s parliament in Lilongwe on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare has facilitated the session with financial support from Save the Children, World Vision Malawi, Plan International Malawi and Judith Foundation to allow children deliberate on issues affecting them.

It has attracted 88 children from all the 28 districts in Malawi.

Nyasulu described children’s parliament as an important platform where children can amplify their voices.

She, however, lamented failure by MDAs to act on their recommendations and resolutions made during their sessions.

“Duty-bearers do not implement most of what we discuss and agree during these meetings. We wish to make an appeal to them to seriously start investing in us now because we are the future of this country,” she said.

She, however, expressed excitement with the political will demonstrated by the current government in addressing challenges affecting the children in all sectors of their lives.

Gomezgani said she had been assured that the duty-bearers would allocate money for the implementation of resolutions made during these meetings.

World Vision Malawi Director of Advocacy, Communication and Children’s Justice, Charles Gwengwe, said his organization regards the creation of space for the children to voice out their concerns as paramount in raising responsible future leaders.

Gwengwe, who was standing in for the organization’s Country Representative, said time had gone when children could not talk about their fears and aspirations.

“The Convention on the Rights of Children stipulates that children have the wisdom and intelligence and can articulate issues that are affecting them better than anyone else. So, the creation of space and giving them a platform to air out their views on issues is very paramount,” he said.

In his remarks, Deputy Director of Child Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Justin Hamela, admitted the gaps in the implementation of resolutions from children’s parliament.

But Hamela was quick to point out that the government is working hard to push local councils to incorporate children’s issues in their budget planning.

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