By Jones Gadama
August 2026 has shown what action looks like in the Ministry of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare.
Under the leadership of Hon. Mary Navicha, MP, the ministry delivered 10 major interventions that are putting women, girls, children and persons with disabilities at the center of national development.
The month opened with a bold GBV mission in Ntchisi. Minister Navicha hosted international star Tiwa Savage for an intergenerational dialogue where women and girls were urged to speak out and never remain silent in the face of abuse.
The engagement also tackled emerging threats like cyberbullying and online harassment, showing that the ministry is adapting to new forms of violence while still fighting domestic abuse, child marriage and sexual exploitation.
At the same event, Minister Navicha made a strong call to place survivor voices at the center of all GBV discussions.
She insisted that survivors must not be reduced to statistics and that real stories must drive policy and action on the ground.
In Lilongwe, the Minister opened the 2026 Malawi GBV Learning, Innovation and Action Symposium and revealed that Malawi recorded 24,467 GBV cases in 2025, with over 22,000 involving women.
She challenged stakeholders to move beyond having good laws and focus on implementation, reach, quality and accountability so that victims can access justice faster.
August also saw the Minister take a firm stand on child protection.
Following a disturbing incident in Ntchisi, she warned that there will be no sacred cows in cases of child abuse.
Working with the Malawi Police, the Judiciary and the Ministry of Justice, she pushed for swift prosecution of offenders.
She reminded Malawians that the Child Care, Protection and Justice Act and the Penal Code provide strong tools, and urged communities to report: _“Silence protects the abuser, not the child.”_
Community structures were also strengthened. The Minister engaged the District Social Welfare Office, Community Child Protection Committees and Mother Groups in Ntchisi to improve reporting systems and community surveillance to protect children.
Inclusion was another big win. The ministry advanced the rollout of Guidelines and a Toolkit for promoting social protection for women and girls with disabilities.
With about 11.6% of Malawians living with disabilities, Minister Navicha stressed that no policy can succeed if it leaves them behind.
She also reaffirmed government’s commitment to the rights, safety and dignity of persons with albinism, outlining support in education, health and economic empowerment.
August further saw progress on disability financing. The Minister highlighted the government’s allocation of K2 billion through the Disability Trust Fund to support assistive devices, health services and livelihood opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Women’s leadership was also prioritized. Through the Malawi Chapter of the African Women Leaders Network, Minister Navicha pushed for more women in rural areas, politics, civil service, business and civil society to be supported and elevated.
All these achievements are a direct reflection of the vision of His Excellency President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.
Speaking during the launch of the five-year Ending Child Marriage Programme, Minister Navicha said: _“This programme is a reflection of His Excellency President Peter Mutharika’s vision of a Malawi where every child, especially the girl child, is protected, educated, and empowered. His leadership has given us the policy direction and the political will to act decisively.”_
From fighting GBV and child abuse, to disability inclusion and women’s empowerment, August proves that under President APM, Malawi is moving forward.
The Ministry of Gender is delivering results on the ground, and Malawians can see that the President’s agenda of protecting the vulnerable and empowering every citizen is being realized.
