First Lady Gertrude Mutharika on Saturday asked women to foster unity as a catalyst to achieving sustainable socioeconomic development in the country.
Mutharika was speaking at Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi during this year’s Mother’s Day celebrations organised by her Beautify Malawi (Beam) Trust. The event brought together women from all the four regions of the country.
In Malawi, Mother’s Day is commemorated on October 15.
The First Lady said women had the potential to transform the country’s socioeconomic landscape because of the large numbers in their population, but stressed that to achieve that, there was need for unity of purpose.
She said: “Women have always been perceived as a group of people which does not wish each other well by pulling their friends down whenever someone would like to make progress in life. But that can change if we work together to develop this country.”
Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati said Mother’s Day was set aside to acknowledge and appreciate the role women play in society which has great impact on development.
She said apart from celebrating Mother’s Day, the month of October was also set aside to observe the International Day of the GirlChild and the International Childhood Week which reflect on the mother as well.
During the event which also celebrated the role of rural women, lucky winners went away with various prizes such as two nights and all meals for a couple at any Sunbird Tourism Limited unit courtesy of Metropolitan Health.
Metropolitan Malawi Health Insurance also donated K1.5 million to Beam Trust to carry out its operations which include improvement of girls’ education.
