Mchacha gets OPC backing, responds to Women Lawyers Association

Office of President and Cabinet (OPC) has responded to the petition delivered a month ago by Women Lawyers Association who asked President Peter Mutharika to rescind the appointment into Cabinet of Charles Mchacha, the governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) regional governor for the South for purportedly demeaning women participating in public affairs and holding a different political view.

Mchacha being sworn in as deputy minister  by clerk to Cabinet Marjorie Nlema, as his wife looks on

Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) Lloyd Muhara defended Mchacha, saying he does not slut-shame women and that his remarks at a political rally were taken out of context.

Muhara in the response dated December 6 2018 argues that Mchacha was talking about “two women” and not women of Malawi in general.

He said: “The two women were found to be going about insulting the Head of State at public rallies. He was, therefore, simply deploring this type of conduct, which you would also agree is not acceptable.”

On the call  to increase the number of females in his Cabinet and parastatal boards after the President reduced women representation in his 21-member team from four tothree in recent Cabinet reshuffle, Muhara said government has  a number of institutions comprising ministries, departments and agencies where more women have been deployed to keypositions.

“If truth be told, the incumbent President, Professor ArthurPeter Mutharika, has appointed more women to strategic positions in the public service than any other president in the history of Malawi,” said Muhara.

The women described as worrying a trend that fewer women are being appointed as Cabinet ministers or heads of boards for State-owned enterprises and accused Mutharika of violating the Constitution by sidelining women.

Minister of Information and Communications Technology Henry Mussa, the official government spokesperson, also said government said people should not only look at Cabinet representation as there are many institutions headedby women.

“There is need to look at things outside the box because when we talk about 50:50 campaign, it is not just about Cabinet only,” he said.

The women lawyers further stressed that the Gender EqualityAct of 2013 strengthens the need to promote gender equality, equal integration, influence, empowerment, dignity and opportunities for men and women in all functions of society.

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ELIJAH VERSUS BAAL
5 years ago

DEAR MY FELLOW MALAWIANS –ITS TIME TO SHOW EXIT DOOR TO THESE GOOD FOR NOTHING POLITICIANS — AS WE HAVE ALREADY STARTED IN PRIMARIES —THANK YOU GOOD PEOPLE !!

Make Malawi Great
Make Malawi Great
5 years ago

Even if he was insulting the president you still have no right to name calling you uncultured mini bus call boy!! You will die for your masters sin pray May 2019 you win!! Homeland thugs not security thus what they should call it!!

Agenda Setting Theory
Agenda Setting Theory
5 years ago

Malawi ndi dziko lo mvetsa chisoni. Can the whole OPC defend what Mchacha said? So it is true that what Mchacha says has a blessing of Peter Mutharika. Shame

Dziko
Dziko
5 years ago

So what is your problem? Do you smile at harlots who swear at your father?

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