Paramount Chief Kawinga for women and marginalized groups inclusion in politics

Machinga, October 8, Mana: The Yao Paramount Chief Kawinga has assured all Women Legal Resources (WORLEC), Oxfam Malawi and other stakeholders drumming support for participation of women and other marginalized groups in politics that chiefs will continue providing necessary space and support ahead of Malawi’s 2025 general elections.

The Yao Paramount Chief made the reaffirmation at his Nanyumbu headquarters on Monday during WORLEC and Oxfam Malawi organized engagement meeting with chiefs and religious leaders to discuss gender transformative and inclusion of marginalized groups in democracy.

With support from European Union, WORLEC and Oxfam Malawi organized the meeting to encourage the leaders to encourage meaningful participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in political processes and decision-making.

Paramount Chief Kawinga said Machinga chiefs had already started the initiative as they created conducive environment for women and people with physical disabilities to take part in politics such that two women aspirants became Members of Parliament out of the district’s seven constituencies while two persons with physical disabilities became ward councilors of 14 wards.

“As Machinga district, we are on the right track in as far as putting women, youths and people with disabilities into various positions,” he said, citing two female Members of Parliament, Esther Jolobala for Machinga East and Fyness Magonjwa for Machingas South East, two female ward councilors and two Ward Councilors with physical disabilities.

Kawinga also mentioned two female traditional authorities saying this was not mean achievement in as far as the inclusions of the marginalized groups is concerned. Adding that chiefs in the district will continue to give room to women, youths, and the marginalized groups to participate in various positions, including elective political positions.

The paramount chief added that; “We are geared to do more as we have more trust in people that performed well during their tenure of office.”

Kawinga said other districts in the country can learn from Machinga on empowering women, youths and people with physical disability.

“We are ready to do awareness in other districts regarding issues of empowerment. We are on the right track and we will do more in the forth coming general elections,” added Yao Paramount Chief.

WOLREC Executive Director, Maggie Kathewera Banda applauded Machinga chiefs for embracing gender issues in their respective areas, saying WOELEC was expecting more women, youths and people who are physically challenged in both political and local leadership positions.

Banda however reminded chiefs that they were crucial in mobilizing women, youths and marginalized people to be part in the 2025 general elections saying their voices matter the most in the communities.

Earlier in the day, WORLEC and Oxfam engaged district level political leadership to orient them on the same project.

WOLREC and Oxfam Malawi are implementing a project called Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusive Democracy in Malawi in seven districts including Machinga with funding from the European Union.