Abstract

The study examined the status of youth participation in political parties in Malawi and the focus was on the political party policies that enhance youth participation, the motivations of the youth in joining political parties, challenges that the youth face in political parties and youth career prospects in Malawi`s party politics. It used the qualitative methods of collecting data and these included interviews with political party senior officials, youth wing leaders and members. It further reviewed relevant documents. The study found that political parties in Malawi have no strategies and policies that seek to enhance youth participation. It further established that all political parties have constitutions but has failed to state the mandate of the youth within the political parties. And it was noted that while Malawi ratified the African Youth Charter in 2006 and subsequent adoption of the National Youth Policy in 2013 that have defined youth, political parties have failed to define youth in their constitution. The study identified the existence of more than one youth structure in political parties that are not been recognised by the party constitutions and most of these groups are popular and active in urban areas while the youth wings that are recognised by the political party constitutions are predominantly rural-based and are the ones that are used as foot soldiers, particularly during the political activities. The study suggests that if this situation is not addressed, youths will continue to be used by politicians to promote their narrow interests and not to build the capacity of the youth to take leadership positions in the party.

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School	: School of Law, Economics and Government
Issued Date	: 2021

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