By Andrew Phiri

Balaka, April 16, Mana: NGO Gender Coordination Network (NGO-GCN) on Tuesday drilled journalists in Balaka District on positive news reporting towards women representation in the September, 2025 general elections.

Speaking after a one-day workshop held in the district, member for NGO-GCN National Elections Systems Trust, Unandi Banda said there is underrepresentation of women in political positions in Malawi.

"Through the Political Empowerment of Women in Malawi project, we want to equip the media, particularly journalists in Balaka District on how to report on stories that will positively sharpen societal perception towards women involvement in politics.

"Media is a fourth estate of government and is very powerful, hence we wanted to provide an opportunity for reporters to familialize themselves with the programme we are implementing, so that together, we promote and strengthen women participation in the September, 2025 tripartite elections," Banda said.

A reporter from Lilanguka community radio station, Florence Chilanga hailed NGO-GCN for the training, observing that issues of gender and politics are sensitive and require proper reporting skills.

"We all have to support women who are aspiring for various political positions in the upcoming general elections, but to do that, we needed the expertise that we have gained today," she said.

The training brought together journalists from Malawi News Agency (Mana), Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), Times Group, Nation Publications Limited (NPL), Montfort Media, Balaka Police FM and Malawi 24, among others to discuss challenges that women face in politics and how the media should help in addressing them.

Funded by UN Women, NGO-GCN has been implementing a Political Empowerment of Women in Malawi project from October 2024 to September 2025 in Phalombe, Balaka, Ntchisi and Nkhata-Bay districts with ultimate goal of strengthening gender equality in politics.