Today, the Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA) was part of a townhall meeting in Mzuzu organized by the Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN), in collaboration with Oxfam Malawi, Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA Malawi), and ECAMA itself.
The meeting, held under the theme “Empowering Young Voices in Malawi’s Economic Governance and Policy Dialogue,” targeted youth, including students and youth-led organizations. In attendance were students from Mzuzu University, as well as representatives from Girl Guides Malawi, the Malawi Youth Network, and the Mzuzu Youth Network, among others.
The discussion was led by the keynote speaker, Mr. Mavuto Bamusi, who highlighted the harsh economic realities facing Malawi. He noted that Malawi is among the world’s top five poorest nations, with over 70%of the population living in poverty, according to the World Bank. He further emphasized the country’s high levels of inequality, with the top 10% of the population controlling over 50% of the country’s wealth, while the bottom 50%holds only about 15% of the country’ s total wealth.
The discussion also highlighted that, beyond limited fiscal space for development, corruption remains one of the major factors holding the country back. As a result, young people are among the most affected, facing challenges such as unemployment, rising debt burdens, and shortages of the critical “4 Fs” Food, Fertilizer, Forex, and Fuel, as noted bythe keynote speaker.
The Chairperson of the Malawi Youth Network, Salome Kadazi, encouraged fellow youth to actively participate in platforms such as youth clubs within their communities, as these structures help amplify their voices. Other participants emphasized that youth must first take the initiative to make themselves visible, rather than waiting for government to find them.
Another participant, Chikondi Msambakuphe, said that beyond inspiration, such engagements must lead to concrete follow-up actions toensure lasting impact.
The youth also encouraged one another to move away from being passive and demand more than just basic needs. As one participant stated, “Rise, speak fearlessly, and demand accountability. Youths should demand more than just food, they should also demand good governance.”
The meeting was part of the broader project “Enhancing Economic Awareness for Improved Decision Making in Malawi” and was held atthe Mzuzu City Council Chamber in Mzuzu City.
