State of women in an independent Malawi
By Watipaso Mzungu Jnr
On July 6 this year, Malawi celebrated her 46th year of its independence having fought the colonialists. For those who lived under the colonial rule, the road to independence was long and violent.
It is for this reason that all Malawians, every other 6th July, congregate to celebrate their freedom from external political influence and interference.
Independence Day, therefore, offers Malawians an opportunity to look back and share memories of colonialism and what it means to be independent.
Since 1964, Malawi has registered and achieved a number of social and economic strides worth celebrating about. But as we celebrate this year’s Independence Day, it is important that we take a look at the situation of women in our societies.
While all Malawians can pride themselves as a country on the move, it is sad to note that women continue to play second class in almost all sectors of life.
There are few women occupying positions of authority in our country despite gender campaigners calling on governments to come up with affirmative action on women empowerment.
Most women in Malawi are socialized to be followers, not leaders. Malawian women lead their communities as democratic representatives and participate in state politics, but only to a limited extent.
Contemporary formal state politics is constructed as a masculine domain, and just 13.6 per cent of parliamentary seats are held by women.
UNDP figures show that the average life expectancy of a Malawian woman is 39.6, slightly below that of her male counterpart with 40. Adult literacy statistics show that only 54 percent of women can read and write compared with 74.9 percent of men.
Strong cultural constraints and belief systems relegate women to non-political roles. According to traditional cultural beliefs, acceptable women’s roles are those in the private sphere, not public life.
This is largely attributed to social attitudes entrenched in Malawi culture, which discriminates against women. Consequently, most women are subjected to severe and harsh living conditions; they also shoulder a higher percentage of responsibilities and manage heavy workloads in the community.
The social situation of women in Malawi leaves them seriously disadvantaged in almost every sector of development compared with men.
Christopher Naphiyo, Regional Civic Education Officer of the South but speaking in personal capacity, faults the society for long looking at women as being dependent on men in families and the role of a breadwinner for most households has been left to the men in most instances unless where the man unfortunately leaves through death, divorce and other means.
This thinking, observes Naphiyo, has left most women incapacitated right from their families where education for the girl child has generally not been taken so seriously as compared with that for boys until of late when we have seen institutions championing the cause of the girl child's education and well-being. This has led to more girls easily dropping out of school because the thinking is that they will get married away to men who will support them financially.
He further finds faults in policies and legislation, which he says have not favoured women for a long time until recently that internationally the fight for gender equity has gained momentum with international conventions, protocols and declarations like that of Beijing and the SADC from which other advocacy initiatives have got their authority.
But what, exactly, is hindering Malawian women’s full participation in formal, national-level state politics?
In her contribution in Gender and Development, Alinane Priscilla Kamlongera tries to highlight a few constraints that hinder women from participating in politics which include limited income, education, and gender stereotypes.
Kamlongera observes that socialization processes are a key constraint on women’s participation in politics. Girls are treated differently from boys, and the focus of their upbringing is on domestic tasks. This limits time available for education, blunts ambition and lowers self-esteem.
In addition, the lack of resources (time, education, training) brought about by poverty is a significant barrier to women entering politics. Women’s economic status is lower than that of men and this holds women back from political leadership.
And as NGO Gender Coordinating Network (NGO GCN) chairperson Emma Kaliya observes, these plus many other challenges make women feel condemned to kitchen work.
Men continue to assume top jobs while their counterparts are mainly assigned to take up house-keeping roles.
In some workplaces, female employees are treated as sex objects; they are even dismissed from their jobs if they refuse to sleep with their masters.
They face challenges to access loans from banks or indeed other money-lending institutions. It is not easy for a woman to get a loan of K100,000 from our banks unless they have some connections.
Kaliya thinks the best way to empower women is to introduce deliberate policies that would promote the needs and aspirations of women.
“We don’t want women to be given free money. All we are asking for is economic empowerment of women through such initiatives as Women Development Fund,” suggests Kaliya.
Women and access to health care
Women in Malawi continue to face challenges in accessing quality medical and healthcare in the country’s hospitals. Maternal mortality rate remains high. Latest estimates for Malawi suggest that roughly between 3,100 and 6,000 women and girls die each year due to pregnancy-related complications, according to a Tool for Maternal Health Advocates developed by USAID.
Additionally, another 62,000 to 180,000 women and girls will suffer from disabilities caused by complications during pregnancy and childbirth each year.
At least 16 women are dying every day in pregnancy or childbirth. Malawi has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world at 807 deaths per 100,000 live births. Though government has shown strong commitment to the issue and has launched a roadmap for maternal health, a number of obstacles hinder progress.
There is a serious shortage of doctors and nurses, with vacancy rates of over 60 per cent. Access to delivery kits, critical drugs and other supplies is limited. The fertility rate remains high - about six pregnancies per woman.
Young women in Malawi tend to marry early, risking teenage pregnancy, obstetric fistula and HIV.
What should be done?
It seems the other challenge we have in Malawi is that of looking at personalities, not issues. Thus women have long been victims of this mentality. But as Naphiyo suggests it is time we started looking at issues and not personalities.
In some instances, the cultural factor has made more women live in fear since when a woman acquires property and assumes economic prosperity of certain proportions or levels, more eye-brows are raised and more questions asked than when a man does the same. Most communities speculate negatively on the manner in which the property has been acquired. Generally when people fail to understand issues regarding women and their property, they associate them with prostitution. These days there is a new dimension of this negative speculation - satanism.
What is more unfortunate sometimes is that women themselves lack the spirit of supporting each other. But as Naphiyo suggests all Malawians should assume responsibility of pushing this country forward in all aspects including the area of governance.
On the other hand, Kaliya suggests that government and the civil society should develop deliberate policies that will see women benefiting more than their counterparts.
Banks and financial institutions should open to women and give them more money for them to invest in meaningful businesses.
“Banks should start lending women enough money that can help them transform their economic base. It is sad that, in the past, money-lenders have been giving women K5,000s, K10,000s, which is not enough to embark on a business that can bring change in someone’s life; this is just enough for hand-to-mouth,” she says.
Women’s participation as active citizens and high-ranking politicians has to be normalised. They have to strategically and consciously make their voices heard.
Kamlongera, on the other hand, recommends that more effort must be made to challenge underlying attitudes and beliefs about women’s role in society. Malawian female politicians should support and campaign for other female leaders. Women leaders need to work together, and inspire other women to move into positions of power. Powerful and well-known female politicians could be encouraged to visit schools and talk to girls about their experiences in politics. Schools could run competitions, choosing bright girls with leadership abilities to be mentored by female politicians.
END
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Dilemmas in achieving 50-50 women representation
Features
Dilemmas in achieving 50-50 women representation
BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR
Immediately Beatrice Mayele, 32, of Ntokoma Village in the area of Traditional Authority Kawinga in Machinga expressed her interest to contest in the local government elections, she started receiving messages from anonymous numbers warning her to rescind her decision.
Of all the messages Mayele got, one made her shiver with fear. The message was so explicit no one would dare defy: “Don’t risk your life by contesting against our favourite. Don’t you have respect? As a woman, you can’t contest against men. If you continue with your intention to contest, you’ll be doing so at your own risk!”
She believes the messages were coming from people purposely hired by her male contenders to discourage her from realizing her political dreams.
Although Mayele has not given up the fight yet, she is, however, aware of the uphill task she has ahead of her to persuade people in her ward into giving her their precious votes.
“I’m still determined although I know I’ll face challenges because people here don’t believe in gender equality. I’m disadvantaged because all my male contenders have financial muscles, which they can use to inducing voters into electing them,” says Mayele who intends to represent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Machinga.
Despite the call for gender equality in all sectors of life, many people across the country still believe a woman can only be a leader in the presence of fellow women. This belief is largely influenced by religious or cultural traditions, which limit women authority to fellow women.
For example, in Islam, a woman cannot stand at the pulpit to preach the word of God because that is against the teachings of the Holy Quran.
Similarly, in Ngoni traditions, women have to submit to male children however young. Chimbizgani Jere of Embangweni in Mzimba explains that although their culture appreciates the role women play in the society, their authority is mostly limited to fellow women and male children less than five years of age.
“In our culture, every male child is regarded as king. Such being the case, every woman has to submit to him even if he’s young,” explains Jere.
This type of teachings, if incorporated in our cultural values and customs, can influence people’s attitude towards women as being inferior to men.
In its 24th April 2010 research paper, Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Educational Trust (Wilsa-Malawi) states that customary laws and practices dictate unequal gender relations, compounding discrimination that women face in public and private institutions.
Consequently, obstacles to gender equality persist in Malawi because of existing discriminatory statutory and customary laws and practices, the organization observes.
The large disjuncture existing between women’s constitutional rights and formal laws [customary laws and practices] also worsens the situation as they act as a barrier to women’s empowerment.
However, in Mchinji West Constituency people defied the status quo in the last general elections by electing a female Member of Parliament—Theresa Gloria. They have not been disappointed, so far, according to Traditional Authority Simphasi and his subjects.
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development provides for equal representation of women in all levels of government.
The protocol calls upon governments and states to commit themselves to the empowerment of women, elimination of all forms of discrimination and to achieve gender equality and equity through the development and implementation of gender responsive legislation policies, programmes and projects.
And to show Malawi’s commitment to gender equality, President Bingu wa Mutharika signed the protocol on October 19, 2009 where he also reaffirmed his determination to empower women in all spheres of the country’s development.
Mutharika told the multitude that gathered to witness the signing ceremony that he was, personally, committed to issues of women empowerment and that he would make sure Malawi was among the first countries to ratify and implement it.
The president observed that women, just like men, were capable of performing as long as they are told and empowered of their role and asked Malawians to accord women a safe environment where they [women] could be resourceful without being inhibited and intimidated.
“We can’t achieve gender balance if we don’t provide a favourable environment for women participation because many women will simply shy away,” said the president.
Pan African Civic Educators Network (Pacenet) executive director Steve Duwa says although Malawi has registered quite a considerable number of women being elected to parliamentary positions in the 2009 general elections, the political climate remains hostile to women and this may have a negative impact on the fight for 50-50 women representation.
Duwa attributes the stagnation to male politicians whom he accuses of using issues of women empowerment as a ploy for rising to top positions because little support or recognition is made to females who have managed to assume leadership positions.
“On paper, the political situation is friendly, but in practice very few women are given the opportunity to realize their potential,” he argues.
“It goes back to the issue of attitude towards women as being inferior to men. Women in elected or appointed positions are usually suppressed by men who want to dominate in all decision-making processes. Most women in appointed into positions are usually controlled by the appointing authorities,” he explains.
Duwa observes that, in most cases, women are given certain positions only when their presence would bring about significant benefits to the men around. He says unless more women are given reasonable share of political power and influence and that they act independently so that they can influence enactment of policies and laws friendly to women in general, the campaign for gender equality and respect for the rights of women will remain a mere rhetoric.
Of the 192 seats Malawi Parliament has, women occupy 42 seats representing 25 percent.
Mayele concurs with the Pacenet boss saying it is not enough to sign the protocols without showing commitment to their implementation. She says while signing of the protocols is a step towards achieving women empowerment, there is need for government to help in creating a fertile ground for women participation in public life.
“Government and the civil society need to work together in civic educating the masses on issues of women empowerment. It’s not easy to change people’s mindset, especially men. Hence there is need for more civic education over this matter,” she states.
Mayele mainly singles out male politicians as violators the legislations that call for women empowerment because they [men] consider women as threats to their political career.
“For example, since I expressed my desire to contest, male contenders have been threatening to deal with me. This shows how backward some people are thinking about us; they think we should be confined to kitchen work,” adds the aspirant.
In the spirit of gender equality and women empowerment, Mayele needs to be encouraged to nurture her interest in public life.
President Mutharika supports gender equality and would, therefore, be the first to support her aspirations. He, however, argues that gender balance does not necessarily every woman should be appointed into positions of authority just for the sake of it.
According to him, quality has to matter when the society is deciding on who should assume roles of leadership lest we compromise the delivery of services in both public and private institution.
“We really need to look at quality,” he said when signing the SADC protocol adding, “Be clear of what you want. It [the 50-50 campaign] should not just be a slogan.”
END
Dilemmas in achieving 50-50 women representation
BY WATIPASO MZUNGU JNR
Immediately Beatrice Mayele, 32, of Ntokoma Village in the area of Traditional Authority Kawinga in Machinga expressed her interest to contest in the local government elections, she started receiving messages from anonymous numbers warning her to rescind her decision.
Of all the messages Mayele got, one made her shiver with fear. The message was so explicit no one would dare defy: “Don’t risk your life by contesting against our favourite. Don’t you have respect? As a woman, you can’t contest against men. If you continue with your intention to contest, you’ll be doing so at your own risk!”
She believes the messages were coming from people purposely hired by her male contenders to discourage her from realizing her political dreams.
Although Mayele has not given up the fight yet, she is, however, aware of the uphill task she has ahead of her to persuade people in her ward into giving her their precious votes.
“I’m still determined although I know I’ll face challenges because people here don’t believe in gender equality. I’m disadvantaged because all my male contenders have financial muscles, which they can use to inducing voters into electing them,” says Mayele who intends to represent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in Machinga.
Despite the call for gender equality in all sectors of life, many people across the country still believe a woman can only be a leader in the presence of fellow women. This belief is largely influenced by religious or cultural traditions, which limit women authority to fellow women.
For example, in Islam, a woman cannot stand at the pulpit to preach the word of God because that is against the teachings of the Holy Quran.
Similarly, in Ngoni traditions, women have to submit to male children however young. Chimbizgani Jere of Embangweni in Mzimba explains that although their culture appreciates the role women play in the society, their authority is mostly limited to fellow women and male children less than five years of age.
“In our culture, every male child is regarded as king. Such being the case, every woman has to submit to him even if he’s young,” explains Jere.
This type of teachings, if incorporated in our cultural values and customs, can influence people’s attitude towards women as being inferior to men.
In its 24th April 2010 research paper, Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Educational Trust (Wilsa-Malawi) states that customary laws and practices dictate unequal gender relations, compounding discrimination that women face in public and private institutions.
Consequently, obstacles to gender equality persist in Malawi because of existing discriminatory statutory and customary laws and practices, the organization observes.
The large disjuncture existing between women’s constitutional rights and formal laws [customary laws and practices] also worsens the situation as they act as a barrier to women’s empowerment.
However, in Mchinji West Constituency people defied the status quo in the last general elections by electing a female Member of Parliament—Theresa Gloria. They have not been disappointed, so far, according to Traditional Authority Simphasi and his subjects.
Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Gender and Development provides for equal representation of women in all levels of government.
The protocol calls upon governments and states to commit themselves to the empowerment of women, elimination of all forms of discrimination and to achieve gender equality and equity through the development and implementation of gender responsive legislation policies, programmes and projects.
And to show Malawi’s commitment to gender equality, President Bingu wa Mutharika signed the protocol on October 19, 2009 where he also reaffirmed his determination to empower women in all spheres of the country’s development.
Mutharika told the multitude that gathered to witness the signing ceremony that he was, personally, committed to issues of women empowerment and that he would make sure Malawi was among the first countries to ratify and implement it.
The president observed that women, just like men, were capable of performing as long as they are told and empowered of their role and asked Malawians to accord women a safe environment where they [women] could be resourceful without being inhibited and intimidated.
“We can’t achieve gender balance if we don’t provide a favourable environment for women participation because many women will simply shy away,” said the president.
Pan African Civic Educators Network (Pacenet) executive director Steve Duwa says although Malawi has registered quite a considerable number of women being elected to parliamentary positions in the 2009 general elections, the political climate remains hostile to women and this may have a negative impact on the fight for 50-50 women representation.
Duwa attributes the stagnation to male politicians whom he accuses of using issues of women empowerment as a ploy for rising to top positions because little support or recognition is made to females who have managed to assume leadership positions.
“On paper, the political situation is friendly, but in practice very few women are given the opportunity to realize their potential,” he argues.
“It goes back to the issue of attitude towards women as being inferior to men. Women in elected or appointed positions are usually suppressed by men who want to dominate in all decision-making processes. Most women in appointed into positions are usually controlled by the appointing authorities,” he explains.
Duwa observes that, in most cases, women are given certain positions only when their presence would bring about significant benefits to the men around. He says unless more women are given reasonable share of political power and influence and that they act independently so that they can influence enactment of policies and laws friendly to women in general, the campaign for gender equality and respect for the rights of women will remain a mere rhetoric.
Of the 192 seats Malawi Parliament has, women occupy 42 seats representing 25 percent.
Mayele concurs with the Pacenet boss saying it is not enough to sign the protocols without showing commitment to their implementation. She says while signing of the protocols is a step towards achieving women empowerment, there is need for government to help in creating a fertile ground for women participation in public life.
“Government and the civil society need to work together in civic educating the masses on issues of women empowerment. It’s not easy to change people’s mindset, especially men. Hence there is need for more civic education over this matter,” she states.
Mayele mainly singles out male politicians as violators the legislations that call for women empowerment because they [men] consider women as threats to their political career.
“For example, since I expressed my desire to contest, male contenders have been threatening to deal with me. This shows how backward some people are thinking about us; they think we should be confined to kitchen work,” adds the aspirant.
In the spirit of gender equality and women empowerment, Mayele needs to be encouraged to nurture her interest in public life.
President Mutharika supports gender equality and would, therefore, be the first to support her aspirations. He, however, argues that gender balance does not necessarily every woman should be appointed into positions of authority just for the sake of it.
According to him, quality has to matter when the society is deciding on who should assume roles of leadership lest we compromise the delivery of services in both public and private institution.
“We really need to look at quality,” he said when signing the SADC protocol adding, “Be clear of what you want. It [the 50-50 campaign] should not just be a slogan.”
END
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