MCP struggles to balance regional, gender see-saw
Three weeks after electing a male-dominated politburo largely from the Central Region, Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has attempted to even it upby handpicking members.
MCP secretary-general Richard Chimwendo Banda yesterday unveiled a 90-strong national executive committee, with 20 positions filled at the elective convention held last month. The North and South won three seats each.
He also unveiled 52 appointed members, but the shortlist failed miserably on gender scales.
The North has contributed 19 appointees, with 17 from the Centre and 16 from the South.
They include second vice-president Abida Mia and deputy secretary-general Gelard Kazembe. The North has the first vice president Catherine Gotani Hara and first deputy treasurer general Jacob Hara.
On the full list, the Centre occupies 31 slots followed by 22 from the North and 19 from the South.
However, women constitute only six of the 20 elected executive leaders, representing 30 percent.
They account for 12 of the appointed 52, taking 18 seats in the full politburo.
The party has also accommodated big losers, with Justice Minister Titus Mvalo demoted to deputy director of legal affairs and engineer Vitumbiko Mumba an ordinary committee member alongside former MCP vice-president Harry Mkandawire and ex-strategist Kenneth Zikhale Ng’oma. Self-touted political nomad Uladi Mussa is the second deputy director of campaign while equally itinerant Ken Msonda is the second deputy publicity secretary.
However, deposed secretary general Eisenhower Mkaka has missed out, waving goodbye to the decision-making table.
Chimwendo Banda told journalists in Lilongwe it is only in MCP “where anyone from any region can take up any position”.
“Some parties belong to families and to take up positions you need to be from that family,” he said.
MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila said the party has delivered on regional and gender representation.
“Two women are occupying the presidency,” she said. “In other parties, the only way women can make it to the top nine is because they have not found a way of having a man as director of women.”
However, NGO Gender Coordination Network chairperson Maggie Kathewela Banda said the party in power should have appointed more women to show commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“It’s a shame that in 2024 we are still talking about low numbers of women,” she said. “It is disgraceful, especially because parties committed to step up.
The campaigner pledged to continue negotiating for equal representation of men and women in decision-making positions.
The country’s Gender Equality Act requires no sex to take more than 60 percent of public positions.
Governance analyst Moses Mkandawire said fixing regional imbalance through deputies and ordinary members is not good enough.
“In a country with different tribes and regions, political parties should ensure that all geographical locations are represented to avoid having leaders from one district or tribe. Gender representation is also key in ensuring a more democratic party,” he said.
