By Santos Zefania
The Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Patricia Wiskes has warned that persistent funding gaps, stalled projects and weak coordination continue to undermine progress in youth empowerment, sports development and cultural preservation.
Delivering a Ministerial Statement in Parliament on Tuesday, the Minister said recent assessments and consultations with key institutions have exposed serious weaknesses that require immediate attention.
She told lawmakers that the challenges are slowing national development and widening gaps across the three sectors.
The Minister stressed that Malawi’s youth remain central to the country’s socio-economic future but face mounting obstacles.
“Our young people are our greatest demographic asset, but they continue to struggle with unemployment, limited opportunities and rising social pressures.
“We cannot build a prosperous nation when our youth remain under-supported,” she urged.
The Minister pointed to stalled youth development projects, including the Mzuzu Youth Centre, which she said is stuck at 30 per cent due to insufficient financing. She announced that Government has hired a consultant to develop the National Youth Service Bill.
“This Bill will lay the foundation for a Youth Fund and improve coordination of youth programmes. lt represents a structured pathway for long-term empowerment,” said Wiskies.
She also acknowledged that Government still owes more than K5 billion from the 2022 Region 5 Youth Games.
“These arrears have delayed key facilities such as Soche, Zingwangwa and BAT stadium” she said.
Reporting on culture and creative industries, the Minister highlighted progress in heritage sites and festivals but warned that limited resources continue to constrain growth.
“We have made significant strides, but the sector remains underfunded,” she said. She noted delays in the Classification Bill, saying the Government will revise and resubmit it to the Cabinet.
She has, however, appealed for stronger political will and fiscal support.
“The future of this country depends on an empowered, creative and healthy youth population capable of driving Malawi’s social and economic transformation,” she said.
