By Robert Nayeja
Nsanje, August 21, Mana: Member of Parliament for Nsanje South West, Eurita Mtiza challenged Women Legal Resource Centre (WOLREC) and Oxfam to address barriers that hinder marginalized groups from participating in politics if Malawi wishes to achieve the 50-50 aspirations
Mtiza made the statement on Wednesday after an engagement meeting with political aspirants in Nsanje organized by WORLEC and Oxfam.
“There is a need to also engage political structures and traditional leaders as sometimes they do not level the playing field. This destroys the political ambitions of marginalized groups like women, “she added.
Mtiza said engagement meetings were critical, as they would encourage women, youth and people with disability to go into politics.
“We have a lot of women, youths as well as people with disability that can contribute positively to the social economic development of our nation but they are blocked by political structures, “she added.
One of the participants, Mphamvu Kalima who is vying for the position of ward councilor said the engagement meeting was fruitful as it encouraged women, the youth and people with disability, to participate in politics actively.
“We want such kind of engagement to be taken to chiefs and political parties so that they should understand that people with disability like me should be given an equal platform to compete in key political positions,” she added.
The District Gender Officer in Nsanje, Edson Njembe praised Oxfam and WORLEC for the timely engagement adding that the engagements will encourage more marginalized groups to actively participate in politics.
“As a district, we need to promote this campaign so that we can contribute to the 50-50 campaign to see good representation of women both in parliament and in the full council,” he added.
Oxfam and WOLREC are implementing a project called Promoting Gender Transformative and Youth Inclusion Democracy in Malawi which rolled out in 2023 and is expected to end in 2027.
The project is implemented in seven districts of Salima, Dedza, Mulanje, Nsanje, Machinga, Rumphi and Mzimba with support from the European Union.
