Wolrec set to empower youth, women aspirants

Dedza District Council gender and development officer Lisnet Dauya has expressed hope that Women’s Legal Resources Centre (Wolrec) support for youths and women aspirants ahead of the September 16 2025 General Elections will have a positive impact.

Her remarks come after the organisation conducted a two-day workshop for trainer of trainers targeting 200 participants in the district.

The trainers are expected to engage aspirants vying for parliamentary and local government positions.

Speaking in an interview on Saturday, Dauya expressed optimism that more youths, women and people with disabilities will contest for parliamentary and local government seats in the district.

She said the training analysed participation of women, youths and other marginalised people’s participation in politics since the country’s independence in 1964.

Said Dauya: “The training also discussed the qualities of a leader, including areas of communication and conflict resolution as well as some legal tools on gender issues.

“This training promotes confidence and critical leadership skills for the targeted groups to bring desirable change in their communities.”

Senior Chief Kachere said most times women, youths and marginalised groups look down upon themselves.

“It is wrong to judge that marginalised people are not capable of becoming leaders. We have destroyed the nation by putting people in power based on names and wealth,” he said.

Kachere Youth Network secretary Kaduwekanthu Banda said the intervention has changed youth’s perception of politics.

He said: “Our engagement with Wolrec has pushed us to another level.

“Our records show that seven youths have shown interest to contest for local government or parliamentary seat.”

Banda encouraged youths and women to run an issue-based campaign.

The training is part of Wolrec’s 2023-2027 Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy in Malawi Project.