YADEMA condemns ‘outdated’ DPP sexist comments on presidency
Leader of the Youth Association for Democracy (Yadema), lawyer Wapona Kita, has condemned ‘outdated’ governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) officials following their sexist comments that Malawi is not ready for a female president.
DPP Regional Governor for the South, Noel Masangwi, raised eyebrows when he said: “Malawi is not ready for a female president.”
He made the sexist comment in apparent reference to Malawi’s first female Vice President Joyce Banda.
During the Straight Talk interview programme on Capital FM anchored by Brian Banda, Kita was asked to comment on the remarks and he said they are totally unacceptable.
Kita said Joyce Banda popuraly known as JB “has all the capacity and abilities to become the president.”
“I think those people are living behind the times. You cannot make that statement,” Kita said in the programme monitored by Nyasa Times on Tuesday.
“What is it that a woman cannot do to become a president. If people think [Joyce Banda] can become a president then let it be,” said Kita.
Banda was expelled from the ruling DPP, after refusing to endorse President Bingu wa Mutharika’s brother, Peter, to inherit power.
The DPP have actively campaigned against her and tried to quash any hopes she may have of running for president in 2014 despite her People’s Party continuing to gain ground.
Youth leadership
In the interview programme, Kita also dwelled on youth leadership in politics, saying Malawi should be geared for youthful leadership revolution.
Recetly, Uladi Mussa, president of the tiny Maravi Peoples Party (MPP), claimed Malawi youth aren’t yet ready to lead because they’re still inexperienced.
But Kita dismissed the remarks as primitive.
Kita said YADEMA will whip up the youth interest to contest in the parliamentary, local government and even the presidency in 2014.
“If there is someone who is interested to take presidential position, be it,” he said.
One youthful legislator, Machinga North East MP Atupele Muluzi of opposition United Democratic Front (UDF), is aspiring to contest for the presidency and has been conducting road shows to hawk his name to the citizens.
Asked is YADEMA will back the 33-year-old Muluzi, Kita said : “Our grouping belongs to people from several political parties. Now we have not yet come up with a position.”
He added: “As an individual I wish him well. It’s something which is good….It’s open up to everybody. But we haven’t yet endorsed him. 2014 is too far away, you don’t know what will happen between now and then.”
Nonetheless, Kita said he thinks time has come for the youth to break the old people’s domination on the issue of the State Presidency by vying for the top job, saying Malawi is ready for a youthful president.
Some analysts however argue that it is wrong to think that all women would vote for their fellow woman or that all youth would go for a youthful leader.
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