By Burnett Munthali
Minister of Gender, Jean Muonaouza Sendeza, has urged political parties to support and encourage aspiring female candidates to campaign fully ahead of the September 16 polls.
Speaking in Lilongwe at an event organised by the NGO-Gender Coordination Network (GCN), Sendeza said parties must honour pledges to field more women candidates.
She emphasised that political parties should actively back female candidates to secure seats in Parliament and district councils.
NGO-GCN chairperson Maggie Kathewera Banda said women in politics still face many challenges.
Banda underscored the need for a united forum to amplify the voices of women and ensure their participation is meaningful.
The meeting was part of the Political Empowerment of Women in Malawi (PEW-M) project.
The initiative was supported by UN Women with funding from the Governments of Sweden and Norway.
Concluding Analysis
The event highlights the critical importance of inclusive political participation in Malawi.
By encouraging parties to actively support women candidates, the Minister and civil society leaders are pushing for a more representative political landscape.
Such interventions are essential not only for achieving gender equality in governance but also for ensuring that women’s perspectives are incorporated into policy decisions that shape Malawi’s future.
