Respect mothers—Mutharika

President Peter Mutharika has called on Malawians to respect, cherish and celebrate the role that mothers play in society.

The President made the call yesterday as the country commemorated Mother’s Day and World Rural Women’s Day, which are both observed on October 15.

Through his press secretary and spokesperson Mgeme Kalilani, Mutharika stressed that mothers are the pillars of society as they build families and nurture children to become productive citizens hence it is worthwhile celebrating their roles in society.

While pointing out that mothers are a foundation of progress, the President said it was also befitting that the two celebrations—Mother’s Day and World Rural Women’s Day—are celebrated on the same day as they give people an opportunity to reflect and recognise the role that women play in uplifting the status of each and every society.

He said: “This day is an important occasion for Malawi. More than 80 percent of our population lives in the rural areas and a larger section of that population is women. These are the women who till our land, feed the nation and send millions of children to school.

“The World Rural Women’s Day and Mother’s Day offer us an immense opportunity to reflect, recognise and appreciate the role women play in developing this nation.”

The World Rural Women’s Day was launched in 1995 during the 4th United Nations (UN) Assembly on Women in Beijing, China. n