Nice drums up support for female candidates
National Initiative for Civic Education (Nice) Trust has urged male champions in Neno District to use their influence to support women aspiring to contest in the September 16 2025 General Elections.
Neno district Nice civic education officer Wallace Kudzala said this on Monday during a training of male champions for the Inclusive Participation of Women in Malawi Politics (Nthawi Yawo) Project.
“There is underrepresentation of women in positions of leadership in many key institutions such as political parties, Parliament and in local councils. So, we want male champions to advocate for women empowerment,” he said.
Kudzala attributed the underrepresentation of women in political positions to patriarchal assumptions that women are incapable of taking leadership or political roles.
He said male champions are crucial in advocating for women empowerment in their communities as they are people of influence and good reputation.
Neno district gender officer Clement Katsosa said involving men in women empowerment will have great impact as it will be men promoting women.
“Previously, issues to do with women empowerment were being championed by women themselves, but involving men to advocate for women will bring positive results,” he said.
One of the male champions from Chikonde Ward, Anderson Kasoloka, said he was geared to promote more women to participate in politics in the 2025 General Elections.
He said he will meet all structures in his community to promote women in politics.
Nice trained 12 male champions in the district, two in each ward. There are no female parliamentarians or councillors in the district.
Nice and the Centre for Civil Society Strengthening with funding from the United Nations Development Programme are implementing the project in Karonga, Salima and Neno districts
