ActionAid for more women in community structures

ActionAid Malawi has called for inclusion of more women in village development committees (VDCs) and area development committees (ADCs) in Mchinji to enhance women’s representation.

ActionAid Malawi Cluster programme manager (Centre) Wongani Mugaba said this on the sidelines of a meeting aimed at orienting and revamping VDCs and ADCs in Traditional Authority Dambe in the district.

“We want women to have a big representation in these committees. This will ensure that more women participate in development in their areas,” he said.

Mugaba said only 30 percent of women were in the previous committees disbanded in May this year.

“For women to rise to top positions such as being elected members of Parliament or councillors, they should start holding positions in grassroots structures such as VDCs and ADCs,” he said.

“We cannot talk about women leadership if we don’t have women in decision making positions.

“However, the women lack opportunity and exposure from the grass root. Women need this exposure to prepare and enable them to attain high positions in society.”

Mugaba said so far ActionAid has organised the VDCs and ADCs’ orientation for them to include more women in their committees.

Mchinji District Council acting director of planning and development Noel Dakamau said Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development ordered the council to restructure the community structures.

“Most members in VDCs and ADCs in the district were men; hence, the very few women who were there were not active,” he said.