By Sheminah Nkhoma
Vice President, Dr. Michael Usi has urged African Governments to prioritise strategic investments in the welfare of children, emphasising that the continent’s future depends on how well nations plan and budget for children’s rights.
Speaking on Monday in Lilongwe during the commemoration of the continental Day of the African Child, Usi emphasised on Malawi’s commitment to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child.
Usi said there is need for continued support to ensure that children’s rights are in the planning and budgeting process of the country in line with the country’s 2063 Agenda which aspires to attain an inclusive, wealthy and resilient nation.
“This event reminds us of our responsibility to protect and promote the rights of African children; there are many challenges which the children face either at school or home and it is vital that we should come with detailed solutions,” he said.
Usi, therefore, said since 2010, the country has made strides in funding child programmes in areas like education and health, noting however, that funding remains a challenge to most African nations, including Malawi.
“Persistent fiscal challenges across the continent continue to limit meaningful resource allocation as they are many projects that are supposed to be done but due to limited resources we cannot afford,” he lamented.
Chairperson of African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), Wilson Almeida Adao appealed to African Governments to commit more resources towards children’s rights, warning that underfunding and poor spending continue to undermine progress.
Adao observed that many countries do not provide adequate resources for children and when the funds are available they are not fully used or spent prudently.
However, he stated that children in poverty, rural areas, conflict zones and those with disabilities were still being left in projects concerning their plight.
A representative of the children, Augustine Bwengela said the Day of the African Child is important since it gives children a chance to voice out their concerns affecting them and their welfare.
“As children we are calling on government to plan and budget for children’s rights in order to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs),” Bwengela appealed.
The occasion brought together children from across Africa like Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria, among others.
The commemoration started with a solidarity walk and it was held under the theme: “Planning and budgeting for children’s rights: progress since 2010.”
