Minister of Gender, Minister of Gender, Community Development and Social Welfare Patricia Kaliati has urged women to fight for their financial independence so that men should not take advantage of them.

Kaliati was speaking yesterday at Gwiritse Cooperative in Nsaru area, Traditional Authority (TA) Kabudula in the capital city, Lilongwe, during the commemoration day of Rural Women.

According to Kaliati she was pleased to that women are doing everything they can in their quest to achieve a self-reliance status.

“We saw many things including Jam which is made from bwemba and also we sampled pure honey direct from bee hives right from forest around the area. Kunalinso ka Vinyo (there was also wine) so nice. I am very impressed,” she said.

Kaliati, further urged people who gathered to have their children in school whether girls and boys and that those who already dropped out of school should be re-admitted.

“I demonstrated prominent women and men who holds high positions in Government and other big organizations to portray a good example for the youth to emulate from, I told them those people used to stay in the rural areas too until school brought them to town,” Kaliati said.

The commemoration this year was held under the theme: Rural Women and Girls building Climate resilience.

Among others Plan Malawi, Reserve Bank of Malawi, UN Women and other Government Development partners made this year’s event a success.