Chihana faults closure of MYP bases: Attack UDF, DPP
Government minister has faulted the two previous democratic regimes saying they made a serious mistake to ignore strategic establishments initiated by Malawi Congress Party (MCP) government which were potential in the enhancement of socio-economic development.
Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Enock Chakufwa Chihana took a swipe at United Democratic Front (UDF) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) governments over the abandonment of MYP establishments when he had an audience with District Executive Committee (DEC) members and other development stakeholders at Chitipa Boma, Wednesday.
Chihana said if UDF and DPP governments were wishing this country well and had good vision for Malawians, especially the youths, there was no way they could have looked at defunct Malawi Young Pioneer Training Bases (MYP) lying in desolate state with a blind eye.
He emphasized that the unplanned disbandment of the MYP institutions was a major setback to the country’s socio-economic growth.
“Lets admit, destruction of MYP training centres which attracted a lot of resources and commitment to establish was a grave mistake the country has ever committed,” lamented Chihana.
He added that what was needed to be done for the facilities to serve Malawians better was to demilitarize them and promote agriculture and entreprenuerarship skills which they were previously identified with.
He observed that if the MYP bases were still intact, they were going to be complementary to crucial programmes launched to promote the well-being of the youths.
He observed that certain challenges weighing down programmes such as Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) could not have been there if MYP training bases were sustained.
Said Chihana, “ MYP training bases were going to be crucial in implementing YEDF whose main challenge is lack of vocational skills among beneficiary youths.”
The MYP Training centres which were the source of vocational skills for the youths in the country were shelled by Malawi Army during the famous ‘Operation Bwezani’ in 1993.
During the fracas, all MYP institutions were destroyed and property worthy millions of kwachas was looted in broad daylight while hundreds of highly productive young pioneers were rendered jobless.
The Minister said his ministry will revive all MYP establishment which will serve as youth development centres.
“We have already began rehabilitating some of the facilities and rehabilitation programme is fast scaling up to all bases,” said Chihana.
The Minister took time off to visit youth groups which benefited from YEDF before winding up his district’s tour with a visit to old MYP base, where suddenly,controversial reigned over who owns the premises.
Meanwhile, it is not clear if Chitipa MYP Base will be rehabilitated by government following reports that the council, without slightest knowledge of district’s key stakeholders, sold the government historical place to a blossoming business young man, Raphael Mkumbwa, Director of Paradox Institute of Technology.
But the vocational skills starved youths in Chitipa have hailed government for its decision to revitalize the base where they can easily tap different types of skills that will help them effectively run their own enterprises.
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