Oxfam to empower female aspirants in Mzimba

Oxfam in Malawi has introduced a gender transformative and inclusive democracy project in Mzimba District to empower women aspiring for seats in the 2025 General Election.

Speaking in Mzimba on Tuesday after briefing the district executive committee on the project, Oxfam in Malawi project coordinator Lindiwe Jere said they will work with different stakeholders, including political parties to ensure that women are heard, represented and empowered to take up leadership positions.

She said: “Firstly, we want to encourage women and youths to participate and contest in political positions. At the same time, we also want to ensure that women who are holding positions retain them during the 2025 elections.

“So, apart from training women in public speaking, campaign strategies and profiling them, the project will also support the female aspirants with financial support to run their campaigna.”

Mzimba district gender officer Naomi Mwale in an interview welcomed the project.

She said: “This programme has come at a good time when elections are just a year and months away. This will give female aspirants enough time to prepare for the elections.

“We need to reach out to people of Mzimba to end perceptions that women and youths under-perform when elected for big political or public offices.”

Mzimba district civil society network chairperson Christopher Melele said the project has the potential to change people’s perception on how they view women and youths in politics.

Currently, there are two women parliamentarians and councillors, respectively  in the district.

The project, which will run up to 2027, is being funded by the European Union and will be implemented in partnership with Womens’ Legal Resource Centre.

The project will also be implemented in Rumphi, Salima, Dedza, Machinga, Mulanje and Nsanje districts.