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NGO-GCN bitter with foul language against women

With 27 days to go before the May 20 Tripartite Elections, the NGO Gender Coordinating Network (NGO-GCN) says female aspirants are being subjected to foul language to frustrate them so that they withdraw from the polls.

Malawi Electoral Support Network (Mesn) board chairperson Steve Duwa and Unandi Banda from National Elections Systems Trust (Nest) and NGO GCN national coordinator Emma Kaliya said this at a press conference in Blantyre on Thursday.

Also attended the meeting: Duwa
Also attended the meeting: Duwa

Kaliya warned that the malpractice will hamper the 50-50 campaign of women representation in Parliament.

“We are concerned that women are insulted in their efforts to be members of Parliament. There is a lot of foul language being used during electoral campaigns. We appeal to those responsible to stop this,” said Kaliya.

She said some women aspirants are portrayed as prostitutes, wondering as to how women’s efforts to take leadership positions could be described as such.

Kaliya: How can one connect leadership to prostitution
Kaliya: How can one connect leadership to prostitution

“One would wonder how a person can connect leadership issues with prostitution and menstruation, something that is natural. In fact, there are many unprintable words that are being said about women,” said Kaliya.

She encouraged the women to ignore such insults and concentrate on issue-based campaign.

So far, NGO-GCN obtained K335 million from the Norwegian Embassy. Women who are contesting as MPs will get K200 000 each while those aspiring to become ward councillors will receive K90 000 each.

Parliamentary candidates will each receive 100 T-shirts for the campaign.

NGO-GCN says 261 women will contest as MPs and 419 as councillors.

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