Disappointment as prominent female MPs tumble in Malawi Elections

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Campaigners for more female inclusion in positions of power have lamented the failure by some female political stalwarts to retain their Parliamentary seats.

Preliminary results show that UTM General Secretary Patricia Kaliati who has served as Parliamentarian for Mulanje West since 1999 is among the unconfirmed casualties that also include former Minister of Gender and Democratic Progressive Party candidate for Dowa Central Jean Kalilani, former Malawi Congress Party spokesperson Jessie Kabwila, former first lady Patricia Shanil Dzimbiri, outspoken Dedza East former MCP MP Juliana Lunguzi and DPP secretary general Grezelder Jeffrey.
 

In a statement, the Joint Domestic Gender Team comprising of the 50-50 Campaign Management Agency and other players said they are worried with a preliminary picture showing top hopeful women candidates losing in the Parliamentary and Local Government Elections.

“[But] the Political Women Empowerment Movement is excited to see a positive picture in the districts that scored poorly in the 2014 elections. These include Chitipa in the North, Mangochi in the Eastern Region and Nsanje in Southern Region,” said the team in a statement signed by Viwemi Chavula of the Agency.

Nsanje was notably one of the few districts that featured at least one woman in each of its five constituencies

The increase in the number of women seeking Parliamentary seats rose from 206 in 2014 to 304 this election cycle with 37.5% of them contesting as independent candidates. Women, therefore, represented 23% of the 1,333 contestants in 2019 compared to around 20% in 2014. The country’s highest number of women Parliamentarians ever achieved was 44 in 2009.

The 50-50 Campaign funded by among others the Norwegians had been campaigning to drastically increase the number of women elected into Parliament and Local government. But it faced a number of hurdles including those created by culture, the economy and political structures.

Comments

  1. Chisomo Kachapila NgulubeMarch 14, 2020 at 12:09 PM

    I don't understand what you're saying but thanks for stopping by

    ReplyDelete

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