Malawi Youth Organization Hosts Forum on Amended Electoral Laws
BLANTYRE, Malawi— Youth and Society (YAS) convened a meeting Thursday to discuss amended electoral laws ahead of Malawi's September 16, 2025 elections, writes Mayamiko Phiri.
The gathering in Blantyre brought together representatives from political parties, civil society organizations, aspiring youth candidates, and various youth groups.
Mwandida Theu, YAS programs coordinator for human rights and civil society strengthening, explained the event's purpose.
"We want to make sure that young people meaningfully participate in the electoral process and also to increase their representation in elections," Theu said.
The forum aimed to enlighten attendees about changes to electoral laws implemented since the 2019 elections and following the nullification of those results.
Organizers noted that many people, especially youth, are unaware of these amendments.
Monica Zonzi, a participant from Active Youth Initiative for Social Enhancement (AYISE), described the meeting as timely and important.
She plans to share the information with youth in her constituency.
The event is part of a broader project called "Democracy in Youth Hands," implemented by YAS in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The initiative seeks to ensure full youth participation in the electoral process.
This forum underscores ongoing efforts to engage Malawi's youth in the democratic process and highlights the importance of understanding electoral reforms for effective participation in the upcoming 2025 elections.