God reigns supreme at Woda

For an event that started off with a prayer said by Supreme Court Judge Jane Ansah, the Women of Distinction Awards were truly a reflection of what women ought to teach each other, as Cheu Mita learnt.

Quoting the Bible, Ansah said older Malawian women ought to teach the younger ones what is good, teach them how to love their families, to be self-controlled and pure and to be good wives.

The Bible in Titus 2:3-5 reads: “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine but to teach what is good. Then they can train the children to be self controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no-one will malign the word of God.”

Throughout the award ceremony, women were taught different values, the greatest being to praise God.

All recipients of awards stood up and before thanking anyone, thanked God for the award.

Of the older recipients who had a chance to talk after being awarded, Catherine Chipembere was quick to thank God first, for all her achievements.

“First to be thanked is God, then all Malawians,” said Chipembere who was awarded for her works for charity. Ironically, Chipembere was in exile for many years because of her husband’s involvement in politics during the one- party era.

Former official hostess Mama Cecilia Tamanda Kadzamira, who was accorded the Lifetime Achiever Award, did not hesitate to thank God Almighty for His hand in her life.

“The first to thank is our Lord. Whatever we do in life, our Lord is with us. He will lead you whether it is a smooth or rocky ride,” said Kadzamira.

Music legend, Maria Chidzanja Nkhoma, in her song Mwana wa Mnzako remarked that it is a song she never sings without crying. She delved into women’s hearts, admonishing women she said give their step children to men either for prostitution or other sexual favours which is a form of violence against children.

In her remarks, chairperson of the Woda organising committee, Zilanie Gondwe-Nyundo, said each of the winners would be taken around the communities as role models in a mentoring programme for girls.

All winners were committed to donate half of the money won to a charity of their choice as a way of giving back to society.

It is evident that the older women were out to teach the young to put God first in all that they do and give back to the society.

The occasion was spiced up by gospel singer Rudo Chakwera who sang a rendition of Proverbs 31, the virtuous woman or mayi wangwiro; a song which ended with an affirmation that Malawian women can do it, yes we can!