By Robert Kumwenda

There is debate over age limit for the president position in the country. The constitution of this country only states that every Malawian can stand for the position of the president as long as he or reaches 35 years of age but it does not state the limit.

The genesis of all this is are words that were said by the former first lady Calista Mutharika that President Peter Mutharika should pave way for the Vice President Dr Saulos Chilima as the presidential candidate for Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in next year’s election because he is too old.

Mutharika is 79 years old while Chilima is 46 years old, there are two rival camps supporting the two. On the same Finince Minister Goodall Gondwe said leadership for key positions in government is not for babies.

Having looked at all this and what the youth are going through opposition Umodzi Party (UP) Public Relations Officer Pemphero Mphande has asked the youth to take part in active leadership.

Mphande said times are changing the youth can longer see themselves as leaders of tomorrow but today.

“When leaders are taking about youth empowerment it does not make any sense if the youth are not involved and if we do not empower them,” he said.
He said there is a need to empower them and they should say what they want saying that it is high time for politicians stop using them to cause violence during elections.

“While the country is languishing in poverty brilliant minds which the youth are in majority are ignored when it comes to issues of development,” he said.

Mphande said no meaningful development can never take place if youth are ignored in active roles, especially on the issues that affects them because there high unemployment rate among youth in this country.

The issues that affect them can be best addressed by themselves and that can only happen if they take part in active roles in leadership.