Malawi women organise demo against Chakwera over gender imbalance
The Women Manifesto Movement, comprising various women empowerment civil society organisations (CSOs) are organising a nationwide protest this Friday against President Lazarus Chakwera’s failure to fulfil the Gender Equality Act (GEA) requirement of 60:40 representation of either sex in public appointments.
According to a notice on the demonstrations, women in Blantyre plan to march from the Old Town Hall through Chipembere Highway to Kamuzu Stadium, while in Lilongwe they will march from Kamuzu Central Hospital roundabout to the Parliament buildings.
In Mzuzu, the demonstrations will start from Katoto Secondary school ground to the Mzuzu City Council.
In all areas the demonstrations are expected to start from 10am to 1pm.
Chairperson for the NGO Gender Coordination Network, Barbara Banda , who is one of the organisers for the protests, said the aim is for Malawi women “to make a stand against systemic discrimination in public appointments.”
Banda said they want to raise awareness, encourage dialogue and see change in the appointment of women in public positions.
“Our ultimate objective is that we get heard. We want it clearly known that we are no happy,” she said.
The appointments by President Chakwera announced in a statement signed by the Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Zangazanga Chikhosi, showed that only nine of the over 60 boards most of them education institutions are chaired by women.
On Monday during a special weekly briefing at Kamuzu Palace in Lilongwe, Chakwera said he will achieve the gender valance during his term as it will be a step by step approach.
But he ruffled feathers of women when he claimed there are few women who are well-qualified challenging the activists to furnish him with curriculum vitae and directory of qualified women to make such appointments.
I think these women are misled by NGO Coalition leader. I don’t think the coalition shared the same strategic goal for their nationwide demonstrations. The president said “there are less qualified women to fit in the positions” and he asked them to feed his desk with names and curriculum vitaes so that he can shift. But what do they do co opting demonstrations which will not do them any good. Interesting move is they are not petitioning their grievances to any authority. Then what’s that? JUST STOP IT AND COOK NSIMA HOME. What NGO Gender Coalition must do is firstly… Read more »
Azimayi want everything for free except sex yet they are the ones on top of orgasm. They want a free vehicle ride. They want a free drink. They want a free job without interviews. They are not decent by the looks. They are evil except a few. African women are very pathetic and always want to be treated with kid gloves.
I feel sorry for your mother
Women must learn to fend for themselves. Why should they cry for positions instead of fighting early pregnancies? Work hard to ensure that girls are going to school and achieving their goals. A good example is the Director of Atsikana Pa Ulendo who is helping girls in Lilongwe Nsaru area. Inu mulufuna u board chair. There judges who are women. There PSs who are women. Most of the women who make noise have a very bad background. What we want is development not demonstrations. You will fail. If Chakwera gives them an inch they will take a yard. Atumidwa ndi… Read more »
You can’t perform even in homes comprising of your own husbands and children, can you handle public offices? Mavi yinu
Hope Mtambo will join.
Yes women should have enough representatives gender in balance is the poor reflection of our country it has to stop so many culpable women, what do you think women are learning in schools? Make way for them be confident about your culpabilities as men, stop oppressive behaviours.
Useless, gender ndekuti chani…
You are quite right, we have very good examples of capable women like Jane Ansah and Seodi White……
Tiyeni nao mademo azimai. Katokoteni kumeneko.
Kumeneku akuti ndi azimayitu…….osati ziamuna zina zopanda MANYAZI NDEVU PEYA PEYA UKU kuti muzikasilira mbina za azimayi…….chonde, asiyeni azimayi akamasuke…..KUMENEKU NDI KWA AZIMAYI okha okha osati AZIBAMBO…..iyayi….ngati mukufuna azimayi pitani ku Bwandiro usiku basi osati kumeneku ayi……MEN ARE NOT INVITED HERE……ndiza azimayi basi..musakatichititse manyazi ayi….. ukakachiwona CHIMZIBAMBO DZIWA KUTI NDI MBUTUMA ndidzianthu dzolowa mchimbudzi cha akazi…chopanda manyazi….
Nafeso AZIBAMBO tikuti maudindowa mutisiyire ndi ayife AZIBAMBO. Tapitani ku kitcheniko mukaphike.
This stupidity of senseless demos need not be tolerated
Tikudziwa wakutumani Pitala, zanu izo ife no inch moved, zili bwino pano under LMC than it was under APM. Three months mukufuna muyambe kudya katatu ngati mwalima kale, aaaaaaa phuma bwanji? Pitani ndi ufulu wanu koma ndiza ziii mukulilirazo. JANE ANSAH anaononga mbili ya azimayi pa utsogoleri, fizi yayikazi ndiyoopsa kwambiri Grezelder anatero. Mapepala ndi performance are two different things. From my experience most women managers are underperformers expect a few.
A banda udindo adaukana kale ndiye afuna chiyani? tafufuzani bwino za ma NGO awa.