By Mercy Matonga:
The Women’s Manifesto Movement, led by Women’s Legal Resources Centre (Wolrec) and Oxfam in Malawi, has expressed satisfaction with the growing interest of women who want to contest for political positions.
Oxfam Country Director Lingalireni Mihowa made the remarks in Lilongwe yesterday during the launch of the second Women’s Manifesto.
Mihowa said that despite having only one female presidential aspirant so far, over 600 women have shown interest in contesting for member of Parliament positions in the upcoming general elections on September 16.
“We cannot only focus on the presidential position, as there are several key positions.
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“However, we are hoping that when selecting running mates, women will be considered,” Mihowa said.
On the performance of the manifesto, Mihowa said she was pleased with progress made in amplifying women’s voices and addressing cases of violence against women.
“We have been advocating for women’s leadership. When this government took power and we noticed gaps in women’s participation, we engaged them, and the government responded to our concerns,” she said.
On her part, Chairperson for the Nelson Mandela Foundation and former South African minister for International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor—who was the guest of honour— said there was a need for African women to develop their own sources of income.
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“With your own income, you have the power and potential to control and advance your own agenda. We, as Africans, must not underestimate the power of collaborative income generation,” Pandor said.
Also speaking at the event, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Malawi Rune Skinnebach said it was vital for political parties to demonstrate their commitment to women’s inclusion.
“This demonstrates that with the right strategies, political will and dedication, the issues we are advocating for today can certainly become reality. The onus is, therefore, on all political parties to take such a stance and show their commitment to ensuring that everyone succeeds,” Skinnebach said.
In her remarks, British High Commissioner to Malawi Fiona Ritchie said the manifesto clearly outlines its demands of Malawi’s elected leaders and serves as a rallying call for all candidates to commit to tangible action.
“Words alone are not enough. Policies must become practice. Promises must become progress. And commitments must become concrete action,” Ritchie said.
The manifesto consolidates the collective voices of women from diverse backgrounds, experiences and sectors, ensuring that women’s demands reflect the pressing issues that affect their lives.
