Paramount Chief Kawinga of the Yao people has called for a change in societal attitudes to ensure more women, youths and people with disabilities are elected into leadership positions.
In his remarks during a meeting Women’s Legal Resource Centre (Wolrec) and Oxfam in Malawi organised to express concern over low representation of women and young people in elected positions in the district on Monday, the chief said cultural practices and high illiteracy levels remain among major barriers preventing women and young people from attaining leadership positions, observing that some communities still perceive them as incapable of leading.
“We need to change our mindset because women, young people and people with disabilities have the ability to lead and contribute meaningfully to national development,” said Kawinga.
The meeting comes as the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) prepares for by-elections in Machinga Mikoko Constituency following the deaths of the constituency’s parliamentarian Jafali Mussa (Democratic Progressive Party).
Machinga district gender development officer Maldly Banda said although many women registered and actively participated during the September 16 2025 General Election, only a few managed to secure leadership positions.
“We registered 36 women who contested for parliamentary and local government positions during the September 16 2025 General Election, but only four were elected,” she said.
Peace and Unity Committee chairperson Linly Mtundu from Traditional Authority Mlomba attributed the poor performance of women candidates during previous elections to lack of financial support for campaign activities.
Wolrec programmes officer Ireen Mtonga said they are conducting awareness campaigns to drum up support for women, youths and people with disabilities.
Wolrec and Oxfam in Malawi are implementing agender transformative project with funding from the European Union.
MEC will hold by-elections on June 30 in Machinga Mikoko, Lilongwe City Bwaila and a fresh election in Balaka Mulunguzi constituencies
