The deputy ministers who were all women, and the Missing Ministry of Gender

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Patricia Kaliati

President Lazarous Chakwera's first 31-member cabinet has 12 women and Malawi's gender rights activists who had been pushing for the inclusion of more females in decision making positions have commended the decision.

This is despite the numbers falling short of the 40 percent minimum for either gender as prescribed by law.

But, they are not amused by the decision not to have a clearly stipulated Ministry of Gender and Disability and the fact that most of the women appointees (eight) are deputies.

 

"We actually have a cabinet with more women but you find that most of these women are deputies. What message is he [President Chakwera] trying to give. To me it's more of tokenism kuti nanga titani anthu asatinene, tiwonekebe kuti [to avoid criticism, let's appear like] we're doing something for women.

Maggie Kathewera Banda
Kathewera-Banda: It's more of tokenism

"So, it's commendable yes but they way it has been implemented leaves a lot to be desired," said Maggie Kathewera Banda who runs Women's Legal Resource Centre and is also involved in the Women's Manifesto Movement (WOMAN).

She also lamented the 'disappearance' of the Ministry of Gender from the list of Ministries as it appears to be encapsulated in the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare.

"Since the Beijing Conference in 1995, countries have in progressed in establishing gender ministries but Malawi wants to retract on that. Without the Ministry of Gender, how will we ensure that we are achieve the same?" she wondered.

Other activists on Twitter also concurred with her.

Twitter screenshot
Malawians on Twitter react to the decision

Boniface Massah a disability rights activist was also not impressed by the decision.

Ministry of Gender

 

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