By Innocent Chunga & Wongani Mkandawire

Nkhotakota, February 15, Mana: Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP) is hopeful that more women shall contest for various positions in the 2025 general elections.

Speaking during the District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting in Nkhotakota on Thursday, Head of Programs for CCJP Lilongwe Diocese, Mwai Sandram, expressed concern that Malawi still lags behind in promoting women participation in politics compared to its neighboring countries.

He said the project, which CCJP is introducing in the district to enhance participation of women in the 2025 elections, will support women and voters with awareness and advocacy interventions.

"Women are always on the forefront in voting in elections since 1994. Those that have potential to partake in various positions in political parties should be given an opportunity to compete,” said Sandram.

Nkhotakota District Council Acting Director of Community and Social Services, Alick Munthali, called on relevant authorities and stakeholders to join hands in assisting women to speak on issues affecting them and their communities.

He said the project has come at the right time to increase women representation in political leadership positions in different parts of the district.

Munthali has since urged the body to adopt use of the newly established names of constituencies in the district, for better understanding among community members in preparation for the elections.

According to a CCJP report, women representation in the National Assembly stands at 23 percent which is low compared to other countries such as Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa.

Currently, Nkhotakota has no female member of parliament in all five constituencies and has one female ward councilor out of ten.

CCJP will implement the pilot phase of the project in Dwangwa Constituency (formally Nkhotakota North East) in Nkhotakota with a total of K12 million from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).