By Dean Chisambo
The Gender and Justice Unit has signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with several partners to boost access to legal information as part of the rollout of the Irene Amnesty Hellen Foundation-funded project known as Empower Line Plus, which will reach 11 districts across Malawi.
Gender and Justice Unit Founder and Executive Director Sarai Tembo said the MOUs were signed with partners including Police FM, the Women Judges Association, the National Initiative for Civic Education (NICE), the Malawi Legal Aid Bureau, and Trust SS.
She said strategic partnerships are not only central to the work of the Gender and Justice Unit but are also key to the successful rollout of the programme.
Tembo stated that the MOUs will close gaps women face, including extreme challenges in accessing justice and stigma caused by a lack of legal information presented in simplified language they can understand.
She added that the project is not only for women but for many people across Malawi.
“Our programming is about bringing services closer to the people,” Tembo said.
“We have seen the gap, and it is not just about where you can access justice, but where you can afford it and understand it,” she added.
However, Tembo said their programme does not rely only on digital platforms.
They also work with partners such as the Women Judges Association of Malawi, which brings mobile courts to communities.
She explained that the Legal Aid Bureau will provide legal representation in court for clients and people experiencing domestic violence in communities so they are not re-traumatized when seeking legal assistance.
Tembo said through NICE Trust they have the opportunity to promote the Empower Line IVR 4285, a toll-free number that can be dialed free of charge to access legal information in the user’s preferred language.
She lamented that their other partner, Trust SS, will ensure their services are trauma-informed because their clients rely on psychosocial support.
This means their services are not only about legal information but also about mental health awareness.
Tembo said their online clinic has handled 1,700 calls since it was launched in April 2025.
She said all callers receive legal advice, with people seeking help on issues such as child maintenance, divorce, and inheritance through the toll-free line 4285.
Tembo added that they have helped 4,000 women through their legal clinic and hotlines in the last year.
On her part, Executive Member of the Women Judges Association of Malawi Fiona Mwale said they have a big role to play in bringing courts closer to the people through camp or mobile courts.
This, she said, helps victims avoid traveling long distances for their cases to be heard.
Mwale said they are committed to the work and have been doing it for more than 13 years.
She added that they have conducted several camp courts with other partners.
