Malawi President Joyce Banda has said time has come for an African woman to stand tall and be recognised among male counterparts.
The President said this in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, on Monday when she launched the Fourth Regional Conference on African Women in Political Leadership being attended by participants from 21 African countries.
She said it is encouraging that Africa is developing a favourable environment for women to rise to higher positions.
“I am very humbled to note that Africa is making progress in allowing women to have leadership roles. Now that African men have decided to create space to allow African women to take leadership positions, it is up to women to take up the challenge,†she said.
Banda said she recently met Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, African Union (AU) Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Ugandan First Lady Janet Museveni where they decided to stand up and promote fellow women.
Apart from launching the conference, the President also launched a book, Her Story, compiled by founding member of African Women’s Development and Communication Network, Njoki Wainaina.
The book, according to Wainaina, reflects the journey the African woman has gone through in the past decades.
“We are happy that today we can advocate for the 50:50 campaign without fear,†she said.—Mana
