By Pemphero Malimba:
The United Nations (UN) and government of Norway have called for access to financing among female aspirants and an end to violence against women in elections.
They say this is key to promoting women’s participation in politics ahead of the September 16, 2025 Local Government, Parliamentary and Presidential Elections.
UN Resident Coordinator Rebecca Adda-Dontoh and Norwegian Ambassador to Malawi Ingrid Marie Mikelsen said this during a cross-party women’s forum in Lilongwe Wednesday.
Adda-Dontoh said women who aspire for political positions in Malawi continue facing challenges such as violence and limited access to resources, which she said were keeping them away from taking up leadership positions.
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She said this had the potential to affect inclusiveness in the country’s efforts to achieve Malawi 2063 vision goals.
“We, as the UN, stand ready to promote your efforts, to partner with the media to promote women’s participation, training women and support the implementation of other activities,” she said.
On her part, Mikelsen said there was a need to ensure that political parties put in place measures to ensure that more women are nominated to stand in various positions in the September 16 general elections.
She also said people who cyberbully women who are participating in politics should be held to account.
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“Women are facing personal attacks, character assassination and organised smear campaigns. This is intentional [and meant] to exclude women from participating in politics,” she said.
Mikelsen said a country fails to solve challenges affecting women when the women are not acknowledged in the society.
“When women are missing; so, too, do solutions that need women’s participation. 2025 represents an opportunity to fill that gap. Norway has helped to elevate women’s voices and I feel that we must strengthen political party internal gender systems. Let’s nominate women in various areas,” she said.
In her remarks, Deputy Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Halima Daudi said there was a need for collaborative efforts to create a conducive political environment for women.
Daudi said as the country prepares for the upcoming elections, stakeholders, including political parties, need to set clear targets for women’s representation, establish mentorship programmes and create supportive campaign environments.
“Let us also commit to regular dialogue sessions, shared resource development and joint advocacy for policy changes that advance women’s political participation [issues],” she said.
Parliamentary Caucus Chairperson Rachel Mazombwe Zulu expressed concern over the handout culture in the country.
“People in the constituencies want you to give them something; carry coffins to their areas. How can we run a constituency in that manner?” she said.
NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGOGCN) Chairperson Maggie Kathewera Banda challenged political parties to promote a positive image of their female candidates in constituencies and wards across the country.
The forum was supported by UN Women, the government of Norway, NGOGCN, Oxfam and Centre for Civil Society Strengthening and brought together stakeholders from the civil society space, development partners and female aspirants from various parts of the country, among others.
It was held under the theme ‘Reimagining Women’s Political Leadership: Malawi’s Path to Vision’.
