BOILING ICE BLOCKS

2009 saw a crop of young people ride on ballots to make their entry

into parliament. This was super good, it was a substantial sign of the confidence that the public has in young leadership. Sadly, a great deal of these youthful parliamentarians are bench warmers, best on mute in their contributions and only carry dominance when it comes tosocial football. Really?Young people are supposed to be instrumental in the development of this country and we should never expose teeth to compose a smile whilst we are being reduced to pawns in the game. Reliable as we are when it comes to social football, it should be the same energy of reliance that should be shouldered by our youthful MPs when it comesto issues of national importance.Many a time have, we, the youth decried the recycled politician syndrome yet when given the leadership mantle, we tirelessly dance to the bitter tune of our ‘elders’. That Malawi is a polite nation cannot be disputed, but young leaders’ persistence on being politicallypolite defeats the intent behind grooming the youth for today’s and tomorrow’s leadership.Sadly, the fact that Malawi is a youthful nation does not match young people’s will to serve the country’s citizenry. It is true that our beloved yet mentally obsolete and senile political dinosaurs areclinging on to power. Conversely, it is also truthful that youngsters as full of energy and ideas as we seem, appear to suffer from perpetual procrastination. A future interrupted? Not exactly. Delayed?Definitely. Whose fault? No need to figure it out, as long as the youth realise that there is no need to settle for only having potential and ambition.All in all, there is need for this great generation to collectively marry our young yet tangible ideas to reality. There is no room for dreaming, whether in black and white or colour... just do it, boil theice-blocks!