Zokonda Amai Macheza: Mutharika commits to empowering Malawi women

PresidentPeter Mutharika has reiterated his government’s commitment empowering women in the country to actively participate in national development.

The President registered the commitment when he made a surprise visit to Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Zokonda Amai Macheza 2017 celebrations held at Sanjika Palace in Blantyre on Friday.

“A country cannot develop without mothers. That is why I agreed to become the champion for the He for She, a United Nations initiative to encourage women development in Africa and even here in Malawi,” said Mutharika.

Mutharika said it was in that line that government made a deliberate attempt to appoint women to various high positions, noting that presently there were four women holding ministerial positions, four female ambassadors and chair of Malawi Electoral Commission among others.

“Beyond that we also female representatives as Clerk of Parliament, Chairperson for Reforms Commission, Chief Executive Officer for Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi and the second in command for Malawi Revenue Authority,” the Malawian leader added.

Mutharika, therefore, challenged that it was only the ruling Democratic Progressive Party that had a female person as its Secretary General.

On the country’s economy, Mutharika assured that government would ensure that the economy keeps on improving, citing the reduction in inflation and bank lending rates which would in turn help in creating more opportunities for women to acquire loans and start businesses.

However, Mutharika said it was sad to note that there were still some men who dissuade women from working or engage in businesses, saying the development was retrogressive.

“Instead of discouraging our spouses from engaging in meaningful activities to improve their lives and that of their families we should consider to start supporting them so that they make progress,” Mutharika advised.

MBC Zokonda Amai Macheza were this year celebrated under the theme: ‘Tigonjetse Cancer ya Amai.’

Speaking during the function, First Lady Madame Dr. Gertrude Mutharika observed that it was imperative for women to go for early cancer screening considering that early detection of the disease makes it curable.

The First Lady, therefore, asked Malawian women to go for screening of cancer and HIV so that they stay healthy and productive.

“Time to end cervical cancer is now. Early detection of the disease contributes a lot to the fight of cancer,” Madame Mutharika emphasized.

During the event, MBC donated 21,000 exercise books, rulers and pens to Beautify Malawi Trust, a gesture the First Lady welcomed, saying it had come at the right time as they will be distributed to learners the trust was supporting across the country.

As part of the celebrations, 13 Zokonda Amai Macheza clubs competed against each other depending on how fast the club’s membership base has grown within the time it was established including some of the charitable work they have been engaged in.

Kapiri Zokonda Amai Club of Mchinji emerged as an overall winner in that category and for achieving that feat went away with K1.5 million courtesy of MBC and the First Lady pledged three sewing machines to the club.

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