MP tells gender activists to broaden scope

Nkhotakota Central member of Parliament (MP) Peter Mazizi (Malawi Congress Party-MCP) has advised non-State actors advocating increased women participation in leadership positions to broaden their scope beyond elected positions.

Speaking on Monday during sub-national launch of Women Empowered for Leadership Programme (WE4L) being implemented by the Governance, Gender, Justice and Development Centre (GGJDC) in Lilongwe, Nkhotakota, Mchinji and Kasungu, Mazizi said non-State actors should encourage girls to remain in school as well as provide leadership training.

He said: “While we are encouraging women to take up leadership positions, there is need for non-governmental organisations to also focus on other areas where women can lead. We need not to focus on elected positions only. We need to impart leadership skills right in schools.”

The MP said he is baffled to see the district lagging behind in promotion of women in leadership, noting that the district has no female councillors in its ten wards.

Nkhotakota District Council director of planning and development Michael Chimbalanga said issues affecting women are not adequately discussed during development planning meeting because of lack of female representation.

“Currently, we have no female councillors and that means men make decisions on their behalf. We need to reverse the trend by ensuring that women are given opportunity to take up leadership positions,” he said.

GGJDC district coordinator Precious Labson said he is optimistic that the district will elect women in the 2019 elections. n