Mchinji hosts Muslim Ijtmah

Muslim women from across the country on Saturday gathered at Bua Community Day Secondary School ground in Mchinji to celebrate this year’s Muslim Women convention (Ijitmah).

The convention is held annually to share Islamic teachings and women issues, among other things.

Speaking when she presided over the opening of the convention, First Lady Gertrude Mutharika said women play a vital role in the development of the country.

“For the country to move forward, it needs the participation of women in all spheres of life be it religion, development activities and taking care of families,” she said.

Mutharika said this year’s theme, The Role of Women in Development, is in line with President Peter Mutharika’s government efforts to ensure women are promoted in the country.

The First Lady commended the Muslim women for the convention, saying it provides a platform to uplift women.

She then urged the women to ensure that they go for cervical cancer screening and attend pre-natal services to prevent maternal complications.

In her remarks, Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security Cecilia Chazama called on the Muslim women to educate their children, especially girls.

National chairperson of Muslim Women Organisation of Malawi (MWO) Fatima Ndaila urged the Muslim women to be hardworking and loving to others, irrespective of their religion.

The convention was also attended by Muslim women from Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania.