Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Jean Sendeza has asked political parties in the country to create a conducive environment to increase women’s participation in politics.
Speaking in Lilongwe yesterday when she presided over the opening of a three-day Southern Africa Academy for Young Women Empowerment, the minister expressed concern that barriers still exist for young women to participate in political leadership. She mentioned culture, finances and the harassment of women in politics as some of the barriers.
Sendeza said it is time to promote increased participation of young women in politics.
She said the primary elections to identify candidates to represent the various parties in the September 16 General Election should be the starting point to give space to young women.
Said Sendeza: “We don’t want to see these young women just participating in dancing and other activities, but they have to be part and parcel of the decision-making positions.
“So, we want to create a conducive space, we want to create an environment where they are protected when we go into the campaigns. We don’t want to see cases of harassment for these young women.”
She said Malawi will utilise the women empowerment strategy to empower young women.
The meeting has been organised by International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International Idea) in collaboration with United Nations (UN) Women.
International Idea principal adviser on democracy and inclusion Rumbidzai Kandawasvika-Nhundu said Malawi, like many other countries in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region, has progressive legislative frameworks but the challenge lies in implementation.
She said there is need for political will to ensure that the laws on gender equality and women empowerment are implemented.
On her part, one of the young women participating in the academy, People’s Development Party (PDP) vice-president Rose Sakala said lack of resources is one of the barriers for young women to participate in politics.
She said: “Young women need finances to compete with others who are financially stable, including existing members of Parliament.”
European Union (EU) team leader for sectors Michele Crimella said the EU is investing €3.5 million to ensure empowerment of women, including young women, and is supporting efforts towards the implementation of the strategy.
However, he said there is need for more stakeholders to be involved to achieve women empowerment.
Currently, Malawi’s 193-member National Assembly has 22.7 percent women representation while in local government councils, women councillors constitute 14.6 percent of the 462 wards nationwide.
However, 40 percent of the country’s Cabinet ministers are women, aligning with the Gender Equality Act 60:40 gender ratio requirement, although not all of them are full ministers.
