Malawi lags behind on women in cabinet: 3 ministers only, one from each region

Despite the latest reshuffle, the Cabinet will remain largely male dominated as President Peter Mutharika has maintained three female ministers in his 20-member lean cabinet with one from each region of the country.

However, Mutharika maintains that he will promote female talent so that Malawi women sit at the tables where decisions are made.

In the cabinet list, Mutharika has maintained powerful Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare, Patricia Kaliati from the southern region.

He has also kept in his cabinet Dr. Jean Kalilani but moved her from Ministry of Health to be Minister responsible for Home Affairs and Internal Security. Kalilani is from central region.

Another female cabinet minister who has been maintained in her post is Grace ‘Obama’ Chiumia. She is Minister of Sports and Culture – from the north Malawi.

With the few female faces in cabinet,Malawi  lags behind other developing nations in terms of the cabinet’s gender balance.

Malawi has also low representation of women in Parliament in the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) region, according to the Sadc Gender Unit.

Statistics from the unit show that Malawi, with 17 percent representation, lies on ninth position on the 2014 Status of Women in Parliament Index despite ratifying the bloc’s Gender Protocol which seeks to reach gender parity in decision-making positions at all levels.

Women activists continue to plead that old school mentality of jobs for the boys should be wiped out.

Following is the full list:

1. State President, Minister of Defence and Commander-In-Chief of the Malawi Defence Force and the Malawi Police Service: His Excellency Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika.
2. Vice President and Minister Responsible for Disaster and Relief Management, Public Events and Chairperson, Civil Service and Public Service reform Commission:   Right Honourable Dr Saulos Klaus Chilima.
3. Minister of Finance and Economic Development: Honourable Goodall Gondwe.
4. Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: Honourable Dr George Chaponda, M.P.
5. Minister of Labour, Youth and Manpower Development: Honourable Henry Mussa, M.P.
6. Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security:   Honourable Dr. Jean Kalilani, M.P.
7. Minister of Gender, Children, Disability and Social Welfare: Honourable Patricia Kaliati, M.P.
8. Minister of Health: Honourable Dr. Peter Kampalume, M.P.
9. Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs: Honourable Samuel Tembenu.
10. Minister of Information, Tourism and Civic Education: Honourable Jappie Mhango, M.P.
11. Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining: Honourable Bright Msaka, SC.
12. Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development: Honourable Dr Allan Chiyembekeza, M.P.
13. Minister of Trade and Industry: Honourable Joseph Mwanamvekha, M.P.
14. Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development: Honourable Atupele Muluzi, M.P.
15. Minister of Transport and Public Works:   Honourable Francis Kasaila, M.P.
16. Minister of Education, Science and Technology: Honourable Dr. Emmmanuel Fabiano, M.P.
17. Minister of Local Government and Rural Development: Honourable Kondwani Nankhumwa, M.P.
18. Minister of Sports and Culture: Honourable Grace Obama Chiumia, M.P.
19. Deputy Minister of Education, Science and Technology: Honourable Vincent Winstone Ghambi, M.P
20. Deputy Minister of Defence: Honourable Malison Ndau, M.P.