By Ernest Mfunya

Mangochi, June 6, Mana: Centre for Civil Society Strengthening (CCSS), in partnership with Oxfam Malawi, has embarked on Liu la Amayi M'ndale project to promote meaningful participation of women leaders in political and decision making processes by 2025 in Mangochi and Nkhotakota districts.

Funded by Embassy of Iceland, the project, which runs for two years will enhance political representation of women and young women in elected positions at national and local levels and increase influence of women and young women on political parties’ operations by 2025.

Speaking Wednesday when briefing District Executive Committee (DEC) in Mangochi, CCSS Executive Director, Viweme Chavula, observed that Malawi has less representation of women in political spaces and decision making processes at national and local level.

He said the project was meant to increase awareness among community members on the importance of women participation in political and decision making processes.

Chavula further said that women’s equal representation in political or decision making processes improve development at local and national level.

“Women should flourish and share their needs and interests even in political space. The more women participate in political and decision making processes, the more the country will improve in the fight against poverty and other attributions to development,” said Chavula.

The project, among other things, seeks to develop training manuals to support campaign apart from conducting coaching and mentorship sessions of female aspirants in Mangochi and Nkhotakota. Targeted beneficiaries also include current female Members of Parliament.

In his remarks, representative of Mangochi District Council Director of Planning and Development, Blessings Stove, said the project will play a significant role in empowering women and young women in line with the Malawi 2063.

“This is a welcome development. It is a very good project as it is going to promote participation of women leaders in political and decision making processes. We are happy to have this project in the district ahead of general elections next year,” said Stove.

Mangochi has 12 constituencies and out of these, four constituencies are represented by female parliamentarians.

CCSS and Oxfam began advocating for women leadership in decision making positions in 2017 to support the 50-50 national campaign in collaboration with the Malawi Government through Ministry of Gender.