Muhara risks arrest: Malawi gender activist wants law on appointing 40% of women into public positions to be obeyed

Chief Secretary to Office of President and Cabinet Lloyd Muhara risks arrest following an escalated campaign by gender activists to arrest top government officials who fail to appoint 40% of women into public positions.

Emma Kaliya, a gender activist, said enough is enough, the appointing authorities in both public and private institutions should be arrested to force them obey the law. “The people charged with the responsibility of appointing people in both private and public institutions should account for their actions,” she said, adding, “the culture of impunity should end.”

Section 11 of the 2013 Gender Equality Act explicitly says appointments of not less than 40% and not more than 60% in public service should be of women.

President Peter Mutharika is the principal appointing authority in public offices through the secretary to the Office of President and Cabinet.

Mutharika is immune from any prosecution as long as he is the Republican President.

There are only three lady cabinet ministers in Mutharika’s 20 member cabinet.

Kaliya said gender organisations have now started monitoring the situation in both the public and private sectors and would drag to court those who fail to adhere to the law.