By Robert Kumwenda

Promoting women in leadership positions has been a thorny issue in Malawi if history is anything to go by. When the country gained its independence in 1964 Dr Hastings Kamuzu Banda had only one woman in his eleven member cabinet by the name of Rose Chibambo.

Though there are several factors that prevent women from taking part in leadership positions, women themselves are to blame for among others failure to support fellow women who show interest in leadership positions, underlying themselves and the misconceptions that some women have that the husband is the head of the family as such men are drivers of everything.

Women contribute fifty two percent of the country’s population a development which some political analysts said that it is possible for the country to higher percent of women as Members of Parliament (MP’s) councilors as well as a female president if women support fellow women who show interest in politics.

Umodzi Party (UP) president Professor John Chisi said that his part is ready to promote the welfare of women in this country through a number of programs the party has put in place if voted into power come May 2019.

He said through the party pillars which are justice, employment and education for all, women will rise up and challenge men in leadership positions because they will be educated as such they will be able to make good decisions for the future.’

“The party is promoting youth and women empowerment after realizing the fact that they are not given the much support they need for them to effectively take part in national development,” he said.

The UP leader said they have already started supporting women that are doing small businesses and some of the key positions in the party were given to women which are the clear testimony that the party is dedicated in as far as the issue of women empowerment is concerned.

From my own experience as a medical doctor l know the problems that women go through and issues addressing the challenges they go through are included in our manifesto, he said.

Chisi is therefore urging women to vote for the party and women that are vying for the party ticket as MP’s and ward councilors.