In a disclosure that has sharpened focus on child welfare and domestic accountability, Malawi’s Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare, Mary Navicha, has revealed that the vast majority of children living on the country’s streets are not orphans.

According to government data shared by Navicha, 88% of street children in Malawi have at least one living parent. Furthermore, the findings indicate that more than half of these minors were permitted by their parents or legal guardians to leave their homes to live on the streets.

Navicha stated that the statistics underscore an urgent requirement for robust family support systems. She emphasised that broader state and community interventions are essential to address the severe social and economic pressures forcing children away from domestic structures.

The revelation has renewed public debate regarding parental responsibility, community accountability, and the effectiveness of current frameworks designed to protect vulnerable youth.

–ChannelAfrica–