By Innocent Chunga

Nkhotakota, June 9, Mana: Centre for Civil Society Strengthening (CCSS) and Oxfam say now is the right time to promote women in political leadership positions.

Executive Director for CCSS, Viwemi Chavula, made the remarks Friday in Nkhotakota during the District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting after presenting the advocacy project of "Liu la Amai M'ndale" which will promote participation of women in political and decision making by September 2025 in Nkhotakota and Mangochi districts.

According to Chavula, Gender Based Violence is a big issue that keeps women away from the political space as such the project will encourage women, youths and people with disabilities to participate in political leadership in the September 2025 general elections.

"We have received over K500 million from the Embassy of Iceland in Lilongwe to implement the advocacy project in Nkhotakota and Mangochi to enhance political representation of women, young people and people with disabilities to be elected into political positions next year,” he said.

Nkhotakota has no female Member of Parliament in its five constituencies and out of ten wards, only one is female.

According to Chavula, the project is meant to increase awareness among communities to prioritize women in political and decision-making process.

Principal Gender Officer for Nkhotakota, Alick Munthali, believes that the project will also address bottlenecks that hinder women's progress and drive for equality in political leadership in the district.

Munthali said: "Women are always on the forefront in voting; hence they have potential in politics by assisting in realizing solutions to challenges in the areas."

Among other things, the project seeks to develop training manuals to support the campaign in addition to conducting coaching and mentorship of female aspirants in the two districts.