As the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is undergoing a significant change in awareness and outreach efforts aimed at young people to cultivate a generation with a corruption-free mindset, the Center for Youth and Development (CYECE) executive director Lucky Mbewe has called on stakeholders to fully support the program.
Speaking in October last year during a media briefing celebrating 25 years of the bureau’s operations, ACB director Martha Chizuma said the programs will reverse the entrenched moral decay in the society through the implementation of interventions aiming at inculcating a culture of honesty and integrity in children and youth while they are still young.
In an interview with The Atlas Malawi, Mbewe expressed concern that corruption is becoming a pervasive issue passed down from one generation to the next.
“It is concerning that many young people are actively engaging in corruption instead of using their numbers and energy to combat it, especially considering their current and future leadership roles,” he said
During the formulation of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy II (NACS II), it was observed that earlier one, certain groups such as the Youth, Women and Academia were not adequately included under NACS because they did not feature as standalone pillars of the NIS.
“This is so even though these actors are critical stakeholders in the anti-corruption drive. The youth make up a large part of Malawi’s population while academia plays an important role in educating the nation and conducting research on challenges facing the nation, leading to evidence-based interventions,” reads part of the strategy.
NACS II recognizes the youth as the leaders of the future, while some among them are already assuming leadership positions.
“They have an important role to play in the implementation of this strategy by, among other things, demanding accountability of government officials, mobilizing to raise awareness about the high social costs of corruption and to develop and implement innovative initiatives to monitor the delivery of public services as well as expenditures of public funds,” reads the strategy in part
In November last year, the Institute of Public Opinion and Research (IPOR) launched a K20 Million Ziphuphu Njee football and netball tournament for Zomba secondary schools, as one part of its financing the Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) anti-graft initiative.
The tournament which ended on January 20, 2024, IPOR collaborated with the ACB, the Ministry of Education through the Malawi Secondary Schools Sports Association (MASSSA) and other like-minded partners.
Chizuma described the tournament as a unique tool in the fight against corruption, that enhanced the dissemination of anti-corruption messages amongst the youth.
Director of Strategy and Management at IPOR, Professor Blessings Chinsinga said, “Our collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Bureau for the tournament is a testament to our commitment to address the root causes of corruption and invest in our future. Sports, with its excitement and passion, provide a unique platform to engage our youth in this noble cause.
“IPOR has been actively involved in studying the impact of corruption on society and has played a pivotal role in the formulation of the national Anti-Corruption Strategy (2019-2024). Today, on this ground in Zomba, we declare, “No more!” We believe that empowering the youth with knowledge, values, and opportunities is the key to eradicating corruption.
“Through this event, our youth have been learning the values of fair play, teamwork, and determination—values crucial in the fight against corruption. These lessons will mold them into responsible and ethical citizens, contributing positively to the growth and prosperity of Malawi”.
According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Malawi is a largely youthful population with over 80 percent aged below 35 years
